The Rev. Charles Sylvestre pled guilty, in 2006, to indecently assaulting approximately 50 girls over a near 45 year period in Southern Ontario. He was sentenced to 3 years in prison but died after only serving 3 months. The Rev. Sylvestre was a priest from 1948 to approximately 1994. It is recorded that his sexual abuse behaviour, in almost every Parish that he served, started as early as 1953. The Roman Catholic Church penalized Rev. Charles Sylvestre, by transferring him Parishes. The plaintiff, Lou Ann Soontiens was abused for over a 5 year period. When she was 17 she became pregnant and the Rev. Sylvestre arranged an abortion which was botched and required follow-up surgery. The damages in this case were catastrophic. There is no technical breakdown of the $1.75-million, however, it is expected with costs the settlement will supersede $2,000,000.00. This total quantum obviously takes into consideration future care costs and probable punitive damages.
Cases like Ms. Soontiens case should encourage other personal injury lawyers to become more involved with victims of sexual abuse cases. There are many victims of sexual abuse especially in remote regions of Ontario, who need legal representation, a law office with personal injury experience and the ability to take these cases in a contingency basis. The damages in these sexual abuse type cases are very flippant along the legal spectrum of damages, however, this should not persuade victims of life-long negative impacts from pursuing legally. These people live with underlying impacts of sexual abuse and its traumatogenic affects. This quality of problems that flow from traumatic sexualization is never ending for these victims normally until their death. The psychological studies have shown that victims of sexual abuse suffer either from hyper sexual behaviours or sexual avoidance. The psychological manifestations of feeling like “damaged goods” often result in feelings of sexual disclosure, substance abuse, or life-long feelings of guilt. They often suffer from loss of trust in others, being that during the formative years, they suffered damage from sexual abuse by people that were supposed to be nurturers and protectors. Instead because of this, a person should not hesitate to obtain the proper legal advice. There are many personal injury lawyers, like Haber & Associates, that will offer a free no obligation consultation and inform you of your rights.
If you have been the victim of abuse, there are many sources of literature that you could privately read, such as numerous articles on the Canwest News Service or, Google News or the associated press. For example on June 11, 2009, a 40 year-old Ottawa man who was sexually molested by a priest, over 25 years ago, is seeking damage against the Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa for over $2,000,000.00. The former pastor, Dale Crampton, was named as a defendant as well as the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of Ottawa as defendants. Crampton served at St. Maurice’s for 9 years in the 1970’s and pleaded guilty in the mid 1980’s for indecently assaulting several alter boys, between the ages of 11 and 14. The assaults occurred at Crampton’s cottage and various churches around Ottawa.
On June 6, 2009, Monsignor Robert Borne of Pembroke, was charged with sexual assault after 3 people came forward and advised the O.P.P. that they had been assaulted between 1977 and 1995.
The Sudbury Star published an article last month indicating that Father Bernard Cloutier, molested individuals in approximately 1971. There are 5 sexual assault complaints against Cloutier. 16 charges were laid against him over 5 males from 1970-1983. Although this is a criminal publication, there is nothing preventing a victim from speaking to a personal injury lawyer with respect to compensation for psychological abuse.
If you have endured sexual abuse or assault at the hands of a trusted individual, please do not hesitate to contact Matt Lalande at Haber & Associates for a no obligation consultation. Any meetings, whether retained or not, are held in complete confidence or in total confidence and your rights will be fully explained to you, with no obligation on your behalf. Also, please note that Matt Lalande is fully bilingual in English and French and therefore, if you speak French or you’re from a Northern Ontario community and you have been the victim of a sexual assault, please do not hesitate to call 905-639-8894 or email matt.lalande@haber-lawyer.com to discuss your concerns.