Bullying has been an issue since humans first began interacting with one another. But with the rise of social media and networking sites, it has made it even easier for bullies to intimidate, harass, and, well, bully, their victims.
Thankfully, anti-bullying legislation states that bullies can be held accountable for their misconduct. But before you sue, read on to learn more about the most important Ontario bullying laws you need to know.
Bullying can take many different forms and occur in a number of different ways. There are few specific laws that prohibit people from bullying, but there are laws against the actions associated with bullying behaviours. Harassment, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and threatening can all result in criminal charges being filed in addition to your civil lawsuit.
There are also laws that protect victims who might be experiencing cyberbullying. Some examples of cyberbullying could include revenge porn (sharing or posting illicit photos or videos without consent), cyberstalking, impersonation, and threats, which are all prohibited under Ontario law.
A large number of bullying cases stem from the school system, and Ontario’s Education Act expressly prohibits any form of bullying and cyberbullying in schools. It also requires schools to contact law enforcement in certain instances of bullying, such as those involving assault, theft, and hate crimes.
Furthermore, bullying has also been known to occur in the workplace, and although Ontario employment laws should protect you to some extent, they don’t prevent the bullying behaviours.
You can take matters into your own hands and get justice for yourself or your child by pursuing a civil lawsuit against your bully or those liable for perpetuating the bullying.
Bringing a civil claim against the person bullying you or the person or organization responsible for allowing you or your child to be bullied can be a great way to take back control of your life.
After being subjected to bullying of any kind, the feeling of being able to bring a bully to justice can be quite empowering. In your lawsuit, you’ll be seeking compensation in the form of monetary recovery of your physical, financial, and emotional losses (or those of your child). Some of the different types of damages you may be able to recover in your bullying lawsuit include:
The impact that being bullied can have on your or your child’s life is undeniable, and no bully should be able to get away with such abhorrent actions. Hold them accountable for their actions and make them pay for the suffering they put you through by pursuing an Ontario bullying lawsuit.
If you are interested in filing a lawsuit against a bully, a highly trained Toronto personal injury lawyer at Jasmine Daya & Co. may be able to help. To learn more about how we can bring your bully to justice, visit our website or give our office a call at 416-967-9100 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.
