In the past two decades, the law has come a long way in addressing justice and compensation for those who have suffered sexual assault and abuse. One law firm which has been instrumental in those changes has been Beckett Personal Injury Lawyers of London, Ontario. This mid-sized law firm has an entire department dedicated to representing survivors across Canada in lawsuits against their perpetrators and their accomplices.
This commitment to justice stretches back over two decades when a groundbreaking trial outcome started it all. It was 2004 and the trial in J.R.S. v. Glendinning rendered a verdict. The case involved three brothers abused by a Roman Catholic priest and seminary instructor, Father Barry Glendinning. Though he was criminally convicted in 1974, the Roman Catholic Diocese of London had never taken Glendinning out of circulation and he remained a priest in good standing. The decision found the Diocese liable both in negligence and via a legal mechanism called “vicarious liability”. Vicarious liability is essentially no-fault liability upon an employer when an employee uses the power, prestige, and authority of their position to commit abuse. There was no question that Catholic priests worldwide had been doing exactly that to abuse young people but in the early 2000’s it was still rare for the Courts to make this finding. The J.R.S. v. Glendinning trial decision was the first time in Ontario that a Court found a Catholic entity BOTH negligent AND vicariously liable in a case of clergy sexual abuse of minors.
Following this case, a landslide of clergy abuse victims sought representation by Beckett lawyers, and to date, they have initiated over 400 lawsuits against Catholic entities for sexual abuse. The law firm continues to do this important work. Their efforts in this area have been showcased in two documentary films, as follows:
- PREY – TVO Documentary on a jury trial in the case of an abuser priest/teacher
- SILENCE – Film Board of Canada coverage of a notorious abuser priest in New Brunswick
Beckett Personal Injury Lawyers' work in this area of law was not limited to priests. After a decade of concentrated legal work with survivors, the law firm encountered an increasing number of cases of sexual abuse of young people within Scouts Canada. With the cooperation of clients and their amassed data, the law firm worked with CBC to expose the problem. The resulting CBC Fifth Estate exposé aired in the Fall of 2014 and it was a bombshell. The CBC coverage is available here:
Fundamental changes to Scouting in Canada followed, including the handing over dozens of perpetrator files, or what Scouts called “Confidential Files”, to police. Beckett represented dozens of victims of Scouting, throughout Canada, in their quest for justice. The work to make Scouts Canada safer for youth continues and Beckett lawyers are at the forefront of this effort.
While the number of children participating in religious and outdoor activities remains significant in Canada, the setting with the most youth overwhelming are schools. Beckett lawyers have long represented victims of sexual abuse whose abusers were teachers or other officials within schools. Not only is legal representation provided but so is access to counselling and at times, assistance in catching a perpetrator on the run from the law. That was the case in the situation of former teacher Dustin Epp who fled justice on the eve of his 2023 sentencing hearing in the criminal courts. Beckett Lawyers brought attention to his getaway and even held the police to account who had only publicized him as a “missing person”. Beckett Lawyers ensured media were aware of his “fugitive” status and he was quickly recaptured and finally sentenced and imprisoned. For more on this incredible story click here.
Sport in Canada has also struggled with problems of sexual abuse and our national game of hockey has been no exception. In 2018, the Canada World Junior Hockey Team held a gala dinner in London, Ontario. The night was not a celebration for one young woman though who experienced sexual assault at the hands of several players. Though London Police initially declined to act, Beckett Lawyers took up the cause and ultimately obtained a civil lawsuit settlement for the woman. The fallout from this payout brought about Parliamentary subcommittee hearings, resignations within Hockey Canada, and finally, criminal charges against a number of the players. For more on this case which caught North American headlines click here.
Beckett continues to represent a wide variety of victims and survivors. With no time limitation to sue our clients range from some in their senior years to those who are still children. Representation spans the country, literally sea to sea to sea. Clients in the high Arctic have received our assistance as have folks on both coasts and everywhere in between. The settings of sexual abuse are broad and cover the traditional authority figures canvassed above to innumerable situations where sexual crimes can take place. Assistance with counselling, collaboration with law enforcement, and experienced civil lawsuit representation are all provided by Beckett Personal Injury Lawyers.
If you or someone you love has been sexually abused, assaulted, or exploited, start the journey of justice today: 1-888-674-4994
