London Institutional Abuse Lawyer
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Institutional abuse can have serious, long-lasting effects on the lives of survivors. Institutional abuse happens when a person or persons are abused, mistreated, or taken advantage of while under the supervision or care of an institution or organization. This type of abuse often involves the exploitation of a power imbalance by an authority figure, who is left undisciplined due to an institution’s negligence.
Survivors of institutional abuse are often part of vulnerable groups, such as children, adolescents, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and the incarcerated. For this reason, the impacts of institutional abuse can be extremely detrimental. Due to their trauma, survivors of institutional abuse may develop substance use issues, incur financial expenses seeking treatment, or have trouble pursuing schooling or employment opportunities. When this happens, victims are entitled to pursue compensation for any losses they’ve suffered by filing a lawsuit against the institution where the abuse occurred.
At Preszler Injury Lawyers, our London institutional abuse lawyers are passionate about helping survivors achieve justice. We have helped hundreds of clients file lawsuits against the institutions where they were harmed, so that they can recoup compensation for the emotional, physical, or psychological pain they have been left with. To schedule a free, confidential consultation with our London institutional abuse lawyers now, you can call 1-888-608-2111 or fill out our online contact form. Our lawyers are available to answer your questions 24/7.
Where Does Institutional Abuse Happen?
Unfortunately, abuse can occur at many different kinds of institutions across London and Ontario. Common organizations associated with abuse cases include:
- Schools
- Religious organizations
- Sports organizations or leagues
- Camps
- Extracurricular programs
- Juvenile detention centres or penitentiaries
- Psychiatric hospitals
- Nursing homes or long-term care facilities
- And more
A variety of mistreatments may constitute abuse in an institutional setting. For example, you may have experienced physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, or another type of exploitation. When individuals are subjected to this type of abuse by a perpetrator, and the institution where it occurs neglects to protect them, the institution can be held legally responsible.
Individuals coping with a history of institutional abuse may be more inclined to develop:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depression
- Suicidal ideation
- Susceptibility to repeat abusive acts in the future
- Poor academic performance
- Difficulty maintaining employment
- Substance abuse problems
- And more
If you are in distress, contact the Canada Suicide Crisis Helpline by calling 988.
If you have experienced any of these effects as a result of the abuse you’ve been through, you deserve to be compensated. This is especially true because the impacts outlined above can indirectly cause financial losses for survivors. Victims will often pay a lot of money out of pocket seeking psychiatric treatment, psychological counselling, or other important mental health services. In addition, your mental health might prevent you from completing educational or vocational training. In these cases, you might suffer financially because your future earning capacity has been reduced.
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Since 1959, we’ve helped thousands of Canadians get the compensation they deserve with their institutional abuse claims. One of Canada’s oldest personal injury law firms, personal injury law is exclusively what we do. Book a free consultation today with our top-rated personal injury lawyers.
Our team is available 24/7 to speak with you.
How Our Lawyers Help Survivors of Institutional Abuse in London
Our London institutional abuse lawyers believe that all survivors should receive compensation for any consequences they had to deal with as a result of their abuse. Although we know no amount of money can rewrite the past, we hope that seeking justice in court can help survivors achieve a sense of closure as they resiliently move forward.
At our law firm, we help survivors of institutional abuse in London by providing:
- Sensitive Legal Support: Our lawyers will work hard to ensure that you feel comfortable and safe when discussing your experience with us. We take a trauma-informed approach to our services, so that we move at your own pace when discussing legal solutions and strategies.
- Thorough Experience & Strategic Guidance: We have a long history of handling complex cases that involve historical abuse and institutional negligence. Our lawyers have assisted on cases involving public and Catholic school boards, the Cadets, Canada Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Children’s Aid Societies, and more. No matter when or where your abuse occurred, we may be able to build a compelling case on your behalf.
- Anonymity & Privacy Protection: Because of our past experience guiding individuals through institutional abuse claims, our firm can offer legal strategies to help survivors remain anonymous. We understand these subjects can be sensitive and that it may be your wish to leave your identity out of the public record. We can apply to the court to use your initials, a pseudonym, or for a publication ban/sealing order, when appropriate. We’ll take all the steps we can to protect your identity during the legal process.
Operating since 1959 in Ontario, we understand how the local court systems and institutions in London work. For this reason, we’re able to provide customized legal strategies based on your unique circumstances. We will work diligently to keep you informed and empowered to make decisions throughout the claim process. To learn more about how we can help you, schedule a free consultation with our team in London today.
Institutional Abuse Lawyers: Frequently Asked Questions
How do our consultations work?
At Preszler Injury Lawyers, we offer free initial consultations to our institutional abuse clients. Every consultation is completely confidential in order to protect your privacy. In addition, after you meet with our team to discuss your situation, you’ll have no obligation to continue with our services.
To schedule a free consultation, you can call our London office toll-free at 1-800-JUSTICE at any time. Our phone lines are open 24/7 to assist you. You may also inquire through our online case evaluation form. Once you contact us, a lawyer will speak with you directly or will contact you at a time that’s convenient to schedule your in-person or virtual consultation. We are able to help clients no matter where they’re located in London or Ontario, so we can work with you to accommodate any mobility or transportation needs.
How long do I have to file an institutional abuse claim in London?
In Ontario, claims that involve sexual abuse are typically not subject to strict limitation periods under the Limitations Act. In addition, limitation periods may also not apply if the abuse involved a power imbalance or occurred when the survivor was a minor.
As a result, even if the abuse happened years or decades ago, you may still be eligible to file an institutional abuse lawsuit. It’s important that you speak to a lawyer as soon as you’re ready to explore your legal options, as every case is different. A legal professional will be able to assess the facts of your situation to determine whether any time limits apply.
How much is an institutional abuse claim worth in London?
Like any lawsuit, the value of an institutional abuse claim will depend on a variety of factors. Typically, compensation is determined by evaluating the severity and duration of the abuse, as well as the long-term effects it has had on the victim.
Compensation available through institutional abuse claims may include financial reimbursement for:
- Pain and suffering
- Therapy costs
- Psychiatric costs
- Medication costs
- Loss of income
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Future care needs
- And more
If your situation involves multiple different survivors, perpetrators, institutions, or a history of systemic negligence, it may result in a higher settlement. While some cases result in six-figure or higher settlements, every outcome will be different.
When you meet with our London institutional abuse lawyers, we can evaluate your situation and give you a realistic estimate of the compensation you may be able to receive based on the facts.
Contact Our London Institutional Abuse Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you’ve been the victim of institutional abuse, you deserve justice and compassionate legal support. At Preszler Injury Lawyers, our team is dedicated to helping survivors hold the individuals and institutions that have caused them harm accountable for their negligence. Whether you’ve been dealing with financial, physical, or emotional consequences, we can help you on your journey.
To schedule a free, confidential consultation with our lawyers, you can call 1-888-608-2111 at any time or fill out our online contact form. A team member will be in touch with you shortly after you reach out to book your appointment.
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We are proud to be one of Canada’s oldest and long-standing personal injury law firms. Since 1959, we have been providing exceptional legal services and have established ourselves as leading personal injury lawyers in the Canadian legal community. It’s not just the awards that recognize our achievements, but also the wins we’ve achieved for thousands of Canadians with their institutional abuse claims.
Case Results
institutional abuse Settlements
Please note that past results are not indicative of future results as each scenario presents itself with its unique set of circumstances. But here are some institutional abuse related wins we’ve had for our clients.
More institutional abuse Topics
Here’s more information on institutional abuse related topics that we think you might find helpful.
institutional abuse
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September 22, 2023
Consent on Campus: What Students Should Know About Sexual Assault
Many students throughout Ontario are returning to university or college classes this month. For some of the hundreds of thousands of students moving into campus…
institutional abuse
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May 16, 2023
Expanding the Historical Scope of the “Remedial Measures” Doctrine
In cases involving negligence claims against institutions in respect of historical wrongdoing – such as cases under ss. 16(1)(h)-(h.2) of the Limitations Act SO 2002…
institutional abuse
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April 11, 2023
Loss of Interdependency in Sexual Abuse Claims
Sexual abuse is an abuse of power. It is an assault of a sexual nature that violates the integrity of the perpetrator’s victim. The act…
institutional abuse FAQs
Here are some commonly asked questions for institutional abuse claims
I never submitted a police report. How can I prove this happened?
No survivor of sexual assault should worry about not having enough evidence to come forward. We routinely take on cases where our clients have never reported their assault to the police. The only evidence we need to prove a civil sexual assault claim is our client’s story of what happened.
In fact, it is rare for cases of historic abuse to hinge on hard evidence, such as witness testimonies or formal reports. Instead, sexual abuse claims are decided by weighing all of the evidence on a balance of probabilities. Your evidence and testimony count.
I’m worried I stayed quiet for too long. Is it too late?
There is no statute of limitations on sexual abuse claims in the Province of Ontario. That means that, no matter how far in the past your abuse took place, you could still be eligible to pursue a civil claim against the person who perpetrated the crime, or the organization responsible for fostering the relationship between victim and perpetrator so that the crime could occur (depending on the circumstances of the case).
We are often retained by people in their 60s, 70s, and even 80s who were assaulted as children. Even if your abuser is no longer living, you may be able to pursue civil action against their employer, the institution that introduced you to your abuser, or any other responsible party.
The law recognizes that survivors of sexual assault often do not report their assaults for years or even decades after it happened. The law recognizes that survivors of sexual assault deserve justice and fairness no matter when the assault took place.
The person at fault is still alive (and maybe even involved in the organization). Do I have to face them?
In a typical case, you will never see the defendant. Civil sexual assault lawsuits are generally handled by insurance companies and the defendant has little involvement in the process, if any.
If the perpetrator is involved in the lawsuit, you will not have direct interaction with him or her. Fortunately, most sexual abuse cases are settled during a process called Mediation. Throughout this process, an impartial mediator will conduct meetings privately with all parties involved in the claim in order to negotiate a settlement. Since these meetings are conducted privately, plaintiffs pursuing a sexual abuse claim and their lawyers will not necessarily need to interact with the person accused of committing abuse face-to-face.
What does the court process look like?
If a settlement negotiation cannot be reached during Mediation, you, the defendant or defendants, and your respective lawyers will be required to attend a pre-trial before a judge, during which the judge will act as a quasi-mediator in order to help facilitate settlement.
If the case proceeds to trial, evidence will be presented before a judge or jury. You will most likely be required to share your story on the witness stand and will be subject to cross-examination from the accused’s or institution’s legal representation. Witnesses, various experts on damages, and others may be called upon to present evidence and face cross-examination.
Once the evidence has been presented and lawyers for both sides have presented their arguments, the judge or jury will determine the case’s outcome as well as the amount of damages the defendant may be required to pay you.
How many times do I have to tell the story?
We tell all clients that they will only be asked to tell the story when they are ready to do so; there is no rush. We do not even need to know the full details of our clients’ stories before we take on their claim. We only need to know if there was sexual touching of some nature.
Talking about your experience can be emotionally challenging, but it can also be an empowering component of the healing process. Our sexual abuse lawyers appreciate how difficult it can be to talk about this painful subject matter in detail, but we provide a compassionate, safe environment in which you will feel comfortable speaking freely about the abuse to which you were subjected.
Generally, you will need to tell your story at least once before the claim settles. The insurance company will need to understand what happened in order to know how much compensation is fair. We work with clients to ensure they are ready and comfortable to tell their story beforehand.
Your lawyer may suggest that you undergo medical assessments from experts who can determine how the trauma you suffered has impacted your overall quality of life, your ability to earn income, etc. Being open and truthful about your experience during these evaluations can be therapeutic and could help strengthen your case.
Can I remain anonymous?
We can apply to the court to ask for your name to be kept anonymous in court documents. In many cases, we can also settle the claim confidentially without starting a lawsuit.
I don’t think the person who abused me has any money. How could I get compensation?
Many occurrences of sexual abuse arise as a result of the involvement of certain institutions. In many cases, the actual abuser is either deceased, cannot be located, or does not have any assets to compensate the victim. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be entitled to pursue compensation directly from the organization or institution that introduced you to the abuser.
Most institutions also have insurance to compensate survivors of sexual assault. If the assault happened in connection with an institution (such as a church, school, company, Boy/Girl Scouts troop, or other organization), then it does not matter if the person who assaulted our client has any assets. We might be able to seek compensation from the institution itself or their insurance policy.
How long does a civil action take?
There is no standard length of time for how long civil actions can take before settlements are determined. However, most sexual abuse claims take between 2-4 years before reaching a resolution.
Got more questions?
If you have more questions or need legal help regarding institutional abuse claims, contact our legal team for help.
We’re happy to help.
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