Peterborough Institutional Abuse Lawyer
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Published: June 5, 2025 | Last Reviewed: May 21, 2026
Being mistreated or abused within an organization or institution can have life-long effects, emotionally, physically, and financially. Institutional abuse happens when a person is harmed in a structured environment that is meant to provide care or supervision. These settings might include:
- Public and private schools
- Religious organizations
- Medical facilities
- Camps
- Extracurricular programs
- Correctional centres
- Nursing homes or long-term care facilities
- Children’s Aid Societies or foster care programs
- And more
Abuse may be physical, sexual, emotional, or neglectful. If negligence on the part of an institution allowed abuse to take place or continue, survivors have the right to seek accountability and compensation.
At Preszler Injury Lawyers, we help people in Peterborough take legal action against both abusers and the organizations that allowed the abuse to happen. Our team is here to listen, guide, and support you through every step. To schedule a free, confidential consultation with a Peterborough institutional abuse lawyer, you can call 1-888-608-2111 or fill out our secure online contact form now.
Understanding Institutional Abuse in Peterborough
Institutional abuse can take many forms. Although it can be committed by any person in an institutional setting, it is often tied to power imbalances between victims and perpetrators. Although it can happen to anyone, individuals who are already vulnerable are disproportionately affected.
In Ontario, many institutional abuse claims involve:
- Children
- Adolescents and teenagers
- Seniors
- People living with disabilities
- Incarcerated individuals
- And other vulnerable populations
The consequences of abuse can have a significant impact on the lives of survivors. Due to trauma, studies have shown that victims of abuse (especially in childhood) are more likely to develop mental health conditions like PTSD, anxiety, depression, personality disorders, and more. Struggles with mental health may result in difficulty maintaining employment or relationships. It may also necessitate expensive psychiatric services, like therapy, medication, and more. In addition, if trauma prevents you from completing educational or professional opportunities, it may lead to an overall reduced earning capacity in the future.
Because of these serious effects, victims of institutional abuse are often entitled to compensation for the damages they have incurred. A civil lawsuit can be brought against both the perpetrator and the institution where the abuse occurred. Our personal injury lawyers in Peterborough will be able to advise you about what types of compensation you may be eligible for and how to proceed with the legal process.
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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.
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Filing an Institutional Abuse Lawsuit in Peterborough: What You Should Know
If you were abused in an institutional setting, you may be eligible to file a civil claim. In Ontario, there is no statute of limitations for claims related to sexual abuse. This means that survivors may be able to come forward when they’re ready, whether it’s months or decades later.
If you wish to file a lawsuit against a negligent institution, our Peterborough institutional abuse lawyers can help you:
- Discuss your situation with a trauma-informed institutional abuse lawyer
- Evaluate your legal options through a free, confidential consultation
- Collect evidence, including medical records, witness accounts, and other supporting documentation (a police report from the time of the abuse is not required)
- File a civil lawsuit against the individuals and institutions responsible
- Negotiate a fair settlement or represent you at trial, if necessary
- Protect your privacy, including using initials or pseudonyms, and applying for publication bans when appropriate
Through your lawsuit, you may be eligible to claim many different types of damages. The amount and kind will likely depend on the severity of abuse and the long-term impacts it has had on your life. Generally, you can recover damages for both emotional and financial harm, including:
- Non-Economic Damages: These cover emotional harm, such as pain and suffering, psychological trauma, or loss of enjoyment of life.
- Economic Damages: You can recoup the financial losses you have suffered as a result of your trauma. For example, you can be compensated for therapy and treatment costs, lost wages, loss of earning potential, ongoing care or medication expenses, and more.
Our legal team has years of experience working with financial and medical experts to assess the full impact of institutional abuse and pursue fair compensation for our clients. In addition to traditional monetary damages, we can also explore other options for accountability. For example, we can seek public apologies, institutional reforms, or other outcomes that may offer you some closure. For individuals who have been forced to take extended time off work due to physical or mental disabilities that have developed as a result of the abuse, our Peterborough long-term disability lawyers may also be able to help you explore your options for financial support through LTD benefits.
Speak to a Peterborough Institutional Abuse Lawyer Today
At Preszler Injury Lawyers, we understand how difficult it is to speak out and hold abusers accountable. That’s why our team is passionate about supporting survivors at every stage of the process, whether legal or emotional. We advocate for you by prioritizing your comfort, safety, and agency throughout the legal process.
Having handled successful claims involving Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Public and Catholic school boards, the Robert Land Academy, and more, we know what it takes to recover compensation for clients.
To schedule a free, confidential consultation with one of our Peterborough institutional abuse lawyers, call 1-888-608-2111 or fill out our secure online contact form today. We serve clients in Peterborough and across Ontario 24/7.
Co-Authored by Jeffrey A. Preszler
Personal Injury Lawyer
Partner Jeffrey Preszler’s practice focuses on personal injury claims, including motor vehicle accident claims, slip and fall claims, long-term disability claims, and institutional abuse claims.
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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.
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We also have some videos on the topic of institutional abuse claims
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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.
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