The reasons some victims of sexual assault choose to sue in civil court
TORONTO — There are several advantages to an Ontario woman’s plan to sue Harvey Weinstein over alleged sexual assaults, note legal experts who say a civil court can offer better prospects for a victim.
The unnamed actress announced earlier this week that she’s pursuing a proposed civil suit against the Hollywood producer, alleging he sexually assaulted her nearly two decades ago.
Her proposed statement of claim says she reported the allegations to Toronto police Oct. 23. But in the meantime, she’s planning to go after the mogul in a Toronto court with a hearing in the case set for Monday.
Karen Busby, a law professor at the University of Manitoba, says a big reason some victims prefer the civil route is that it can be easier to get a ruling in the plaintiff’s favour.