Quebec parents file $1.6M suit after teacher allegedly puts kids’ art for sale online
MONTREAL — Ten Montreal-area parents are suing a high school teacher and a school board after their children’s classroom art assignments were allegedly posted for sale online.
The lawsuit in Quebec Superior Court seeks $155,000 per family, plus punitive damages and an apology from Westwood Junior High School art teacher Mario Perron and the Lester B. Pearson school board.
A filing dated March 15 says Perron had assigned his students at the St-Lazare, Que., school to produce a “creepy portrait” of themselves or a classmate inspired by the style of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.
The lawsuit alleges the students found out in February that the teacher was selling their artwork online without their consent, as prints or on T-shirts, coffee mugs, bags and decor, at prices ranging from US$9.50 to US$113.