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ARTICLE · 26 FEBRUARY 2018

10 Things To Know About Sexual Assault Civil Lawsuits

Howie, Sacks & Henry LLP
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The #MeToo and #TimesUp movement has brought long-awaited attention to a problem our society has buried for far too long.

CanadaLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Valerie Lord
Valerie Lord
Michael J. Henry
Michael J. Henry
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The #MeToo and #TimesUp movement has brought long-awaited attention to a problem our society has buried for far too long. While it brings hope for the future, here are 10 things to keep in mind when looking at sexual assault cases from a civil lawsuit perspective:

1. On March 9, 2016, the Ontario Limitations Act was amended to remove all limitation periods for civil claims "based on sexual assault". This means that the traditional 2 year limitation period that normally applies in the civil context does not apply for claims related to sexual assault.

2. The Compensation for Victims of Crime Act (CVCA) was also amended, removing all limitation periods for victims wishing to make applications to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB).

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