Loretta Merritt has been a partner with the firm since 1992. She is one of the few
lawyers in Toronto who has substantial experience representing both plaintiffs and
defendants in abuse and harassment matters in civil lawsuits and employment cases.
Read more.
Sexual Assaulthttp://www.torkinmanes.com/practice_areas/Loretta_Merritt/
On October 21, 2011 CBC TV's The Fifth Estate focused on sexual abuse of Boy Scouts. Some of Loretta's former clients were interviewed for the segment, specifically about confidentiality clauses in settlements. As an authority in this field, Loretta was interviewed by CBC National Radio on October 22, 2011 and by CBC Radio affiliates across the country on October 24, 2011. Watch the CBC National interview at the following link.
Scouts Canada and Child Protection
What constitutes sexual assault?
Sexual abuse or sexual assault is any form of sexual contact where one of the people involved did not consent to the contact. In some cases, as with children, the person being assaulted doesn't know or understand what is happening. In other cases, the person being assaulted may know and understand what is happening, but may be too afraid to object. In either case, they did not consent to what happened, and that makes it sexual assault.
People who commit sexual abuse can be very close to the person they assaulted, such as family members, caregivers, teachers, or coaches. They can be people in a professional relationship with the person they assault, such as clergy, medical or other professionals. Then again, they might be complete strangers. The law takes an especially dim view of people who take advantage of their position of trust to commit sexual assault.
Sexual abuse is a traumatic event that in some cases continues for years. Survivors can be left traumatized, sometimes to the point of not being able to live a normal life. In some cases, the attacker is charged with a criminal offence and goes to jail. In others, the attacker is never brought to justice. And in some cases, even many years after the fact, survivors sue their attackers in civil (as opposed to criminal) court.
This website outlines what is involved for survivors of sexual assault who wish to sue their attackers.
Any enquiries arising out of this website should be directed to Loretta P. Merritt at (416) 777-5404. Follow Loretta Merritt on Twitter.
The issues raised in this website are for information purposes only. The comments made on this website should not be relied upon to replace specific legal advice. Readers should contact professional advisors before acting on the basis of material contained herein.
