Lawyers representing long-term care residents who suffered or died during the COVID-19 pandemic argued a class-action suit against hundreds of homes is the best way for those patients — and their loved ones — to get justice.

On Monday, plaintiff lawyers laid out their case before a Superior Court judge who will decide whether or not the proposed class action can go ahead. The suit, which is actually eight proceedings combined, names 304 independent and municipal homes, capturing almost half of the long-term care facilities in Ontario.

Joel Rochon of Rochon Genova argued the homes took a reactive, “wait-and-see” approach and “inexplicably” failed to follow the precautionary principle even while watching the disease take hold in Asia, resulting in thousands of unnecessary deaths.