A B.C. woman launched a lawsuit against Sail Canada and Sail Nova Scotia on Tuesday, alleging they failed to act when the athlete complained about being sexually assaulted.
TheToronto lawyerwhorepresentsthewomanhopes thelawsuitagainst thegoverningbodyfor sailing in Canada will put institutions on notice that they must start treating sexual assault complaints far more seriously.
“I'm worried that the outcome of the recent Hockey Canada trial has put a chill on victims coming forward to complain,” said Mike Smitiuch,thefounderofSmitiuchInjury Law.”Italso appears that some institutions didn't learn any lessons from what happened in the hockey world.”
Thelawsuit filedinaKingstoncourt,theeastern OntariocitywhereSailCanada's headquarters is located, contends the organization failed to follow its protocols after a 21-year-old female sailor allegedshewasrapedbyher teammate.
ThewomansaystherapeoccurredinNovaScotia inJuly2024whileshewasinatraining program.
Smitiuch saidtheyoungwomanwasignored andsubjectedto”shaming”bytheleaders and members of Sail Canada and Sail Nova Scotia. He also pointed out that it is alleged in the claim thattwo of the men involved have since beenpromoted to positions of increased authorityat sailing clubs in other provinces.
“Myclientreported therapebutsailingauthoritiesfailedtotakeitseriously,”saidSmitiuch. “Even worse the lawsuit alleges they retaliated by bullying and ostracizing my client, then willfully conspired to sweep the whole thing under the carpet.”
Several other parties are included in the lawsuit, including the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron.
“Sail Canada and its Nova Scotia affiliate failed my client,” said Smitiuch. “This is a case of an 'old boys club' trying to make a young female's rape accusation go away. She is determinedtomakesailing saferforgirlsbyholding allthosecomplicit accountable.”
SOURCE Smitiuch Injury Law Professional Corporation
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