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Claims for Sexual Abuse and Assault

Megan Ellis KC was one of the first Canadian lawyers to devote a major part of her practice to work on behalf of women and men seeking compensation for injuries suffered as a result of childhood sexual abuse and sexual assault. She has more than 30 years of experience successfully representing clients against individual abusers, their estates, and institutions, including religious organizations, associations, and governments.

Since 1991, she has pioneered a body of case law and contributed to legislative changes that have led to making compensation available to many survivors of sexual assaults and abuse, including the following:

  • successfully arguing that the time in which to bring a claim for sexual abuse should be extended until the victim understands the effects of the abuse;
  • working to change the legislation in British Columbia to remove the Limitation Act as an obstacle to bringing claims for damages for abuse;
  • protecting victims’ privacy;
  • successfully arguing that reduced past earnings and future earning capacity should be recognized as part of the losses suffered by victims of sexual assault and abuse;
  • precedent setting compensation awards to clients;
  • developing the law of evidence and disclosure in sexual abuse and assault cases;
  • advocating for changes to Canada’s Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act to prevent abusers from using the bankruptcy process to avoid paying financial compensation to their victims;
  • participating in the British Columbia Law Institute’s Project Committee on Civil Remedies for Sexual Assault;
  • participating in the Institutional Abuse Study Panel for the Law Commission of Canada; and
  • speaking at seminars to educate lawyers and other professionals about sexual abuse and assault claims.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO TAKE ANY NEW SEXUAL ABUSE OR SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES