Child Bullying Litigation Lawyers Lawyers Toronto, Barrie & GTA

This niche and emerging practice area, part of the broader sphere of education law, at RLG, is built upon our desire to help children and their families stop the tragic and destructive bullying that is so prevalent in our schools, particularly at private and independent schools in the province.

Brian F.P. Murphy, QC (of the Bars of New Brunswick and Ontario), and Andrew Rogerson comprise the RLG education law team.

Bullying Law in Ontario

In Ontario, Accepting Schools Act, 2012: An Act to amend the Education Act pertains to bullying. The Act sets out the rights and responsibilities of teachers, schools, school boards, other school board employees, and ministries when preventing or dealing with bullying and cyberbullying instances. The law pertains to all incidents of bullying and cyberbullying that affect the school’s learning climate, whether on or off school property, face-to-face, or electronic.

Bullying and Private/Independent Schools in Ontario

Education is under the legislative domain of provinces and territories in Canada; its major piece of governing legislation in the province of Ontario is the Education Act. Sadly, the provincial government will not help you if your child is bullied in a private or independent school.

By and large, the Education Act does not apply to private and independent schools in the province; such schools are considered distinct from other schools and operate as businesses or non-profit organizations. Regrettably, there is no specific legislation regarding bullying for private and independent schools in the province. Calling the police may not be effective. It appears to be extremely difficult for children’s aid societies to enter private and independent schools when child protection concerns of bullying are reported to them.

Suing schools has proven effective in the past. For example, in the 2004 case of Kaufman v. Leo Baeck Day School, the parents were successful in forcing the private school to reinstate their son. The school had expelled the Kaufman student after holding a meeting behind closed doors and not giving the parents an opportunity to be heard. With respect to the student, the judge said his conduct had been exemplary.

Latest Cases

1. Mother Doe and Jane Doe v. Havergal College et al. 
2. Andrew Rogerson and Grace Rogerson v. Havergal College et al. 

 

We’re here to help
Rogerson Law Group and several of its esteemed barristers are here to help you, including Brian F. P. Murphy, QC.

Brian F. P. Murphy, QC

An extremely experienced and successful trial counsel, Brian has a particular niche acting for the victims of bullying. He is retained by Bullying Canada and appeared for them in the seminal Supreme Court of Canada case, A.B. v. Bragg Communications Inc. [2012] 2 SCR 567. Brian has been heavily involved for many years in securing justice for victims of abuse committed by Catholic priests and by the Residential Schools system.

As a completely bi-lingual Member of the Ontario and New Brunswick Bars, Brian acts as trial counsel to Rogerson Law Group in bullying cases generally and is currently engaged in a number of very serious bullying cases against Toronto private school for girls, Havergal College.

Learn more about Brian