A former La Ronge resident is suing Indian Child and Family Services for negligence which she says led to the death of her husband.
Cora Laich is the widow of Simon Grant who died as the result of a vicious assault during an attempted robbery at his La Ronge restaurant in April 2017.
The statement of claim says Simon Grant and Cora Laich had taken a 17-year-old male into their care after finding him living in a tent outside La Ronge months before.
However, it says the couple eventually asked him to leave their home due to behavioural difficulties and this is when he made threats against Grant.
Roughly two weeks later, the youth was one a group of assailants in the attempted robbery and fatal assault that took place in Grant’s restaurant.
Laich said the teen was a ward of the state and Lac La Ronge Indian Band ICFS completely failed to provide him with basic living or mental health supports which eventually resulted in him lashing out.
“Simon and I had already had concerns and were frustrated with ICFS because we had gone to them to try get the boy mental health help and said, ‘You need to find him a place to live,’” she said. “He was living in a tent and we took care of him for 11 months.”
Laich added the teen had been making progress under their care but quickly went downhill after leaving their home.
“He went from 10 months of going to school, getting healthy, going to the doctor, dentist, orthodontist…he got five credits that year, his learner’s licence when he was under our care. To one month after being away from us he did a break and enter and was in the cellblock in La Ronge.”
The statement of claim is seeking more than $50,000 in damages.
In May, the now 19-year-old man, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was sentenced to nine years in prison for his role in Grant’s death.
Another male and youth were also previously sentenced for their roles in the attack.
(PHOTO: Cora Laich, left, and Simon Grant, right. File photo.)