Sexual Misconduct Archives - Rubin Thomlinson

Hockey Night in Canada – the verdict is in, prompting a reckoning between criminal and civil evidentiary standards

July 25, 2025 | By Chantel Levy

On July 24, 2025, Justice Maria Carroccia delivered her verdict in the widely followed sexual assault criminal trial in which she considered the actions of five former World Junior hockey players, in relation to a woman, in a 2018 incident in London, Ontario. Justice Carroccia found the accused not guilty, and stated that the woman, referred to as “EM” throughout the trial, was neither credible nor reliable.

How close is close? The RBC case and the emergence of fraternization policies

June 24, 2025 | By Chantel Levy

The Royal Bank of Canada (“RBC”) made headlines last year when they fired two executives, over allegations of an undisclosed relationship between them that led to preferential treatment. One executive was junior to the other and had received significant promotions and pay increases, allegedly with the other’s influence.

Money, power, & respect: Takeaways from the Sean “Diddy” Combs trial as a workplace investigator

June 12, 2025

By the time you read this blog, we will be entering week five of the federal investigation and legal proceedings involving Sean “Diddy” Combs. Side note: Combs faces charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. For some, this trial may feel like a blockbuster movie—complete with shocking allegations involving guns, drive-by shootings, explosives, and even kidnapping.

Tale as old as time? Preliminary thoughts on the Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni sexual harassment suit

February 11, 2025 | By Chantel Levy

There may be more pressing news right now, but the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni lawsuit caught my eye. If you haven’t read about it — in a nutshell, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni acted as a couple in a recent movie, “It Ends with Us.”

The continued prevalence of sexual harassment in workplaces: Where do we go from here?

October 22, 2024 | By Katharine Montpetit

Two recent studies out of the United States are sobering reminders that workplaces still have work to do in combatting sexual harassment. Tulane University’s National Study of Sexual Harassment and Assault in the United States (“Tulane Report”) found no significant change in the prevalence of workplace sexual harassment between now and their first study conducted in 2018.

Addressing sexual misconduct in the workplace: Making the case for sexual and gender-based violence assessments

September 5, 2024 | By Elizabeth Bingham, | By Katharine Montpetit

In our practice as workplace investigators, we regularly conduct investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct. Investigations are critical to ensuring a fair outcome and a safe work environment when these types of serious allegations are made.

Projet de loi 190 de l’Ontario: Quel impact aura-t-il dans les enquêtes d’harcèlement sexuel virtuel?

July 3, 2024 | By Katharine Montpetit,

Le gouvernement de l’Ontario a récemment annoncé le dépôt du projet de loi 190 (également connu sous le nom de Loi de 2024 visant à œuvrer pour les travailleurs, cinq). Le projet de loi propose des modifications à divers textes législatifs liés à l’emploi. L’un de ces changements est l’élargissement des définitions du harcèlement au travail et du harcèlement sexuel au travail en vertu de la Loi sur la Santé et la Sécurité au Travail (« LSST ») pour y inclure certaines activités virtuelles.

Ontario’s Bill 190: What it could mean for investigating workplace “virtual” sexual harassment

May 29, 2024 | By Katharine Montpetit

The Ontario government recently announced its introduction of Bill 190 (also known as the Working for Workers Five Act, 2024). The bill proposes changes to various pieces of employment-related legislation. One of these changes is the expansion of the definitions of workplace harassment and workplace sexual harassment under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (“OHSA”) to include certain virtual activities.

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