Sexual Violence 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.

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.

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.

Jocks and locker room talk? Lessons for workplace investigators from research on student athletes and sexualized violence

March 26, 2024 | By Elizabeth Bingham

Over the past several years, high profile allegations, investigations, and findings of sexualized violence in sports have garnered significant media attention, both within Canada and around the world. As a workplace investigator who focuses on investigations and assessments in the education sector, these incidents have gotten me thinking about the intersection between secondary and post-secondary institutions, athletes, and misconduct.

Sex, lies, and celebrities: What employers can learn from the Russell Brand allegations

October 10, 2023

In recent weeks, allegations have been raised about actor/comedian Russell Brand regarding various instances of sexual assault, emotional abuse, and bullying from four anonymous women. As outlined below, this story provides several important takeaways for employers and investigators who deal with these issues.

A primer on sexual assault investigations in the workplace

October 4, 2022 | By Katharine Montpetit

Some of the most serious forms of workplace or institutional investigations will involve the investigation of allegations of sexual assault. For post-secondary institutions (“PSIs”), incidents of sexual assault are, unfortunately, not uncommon. As evidenced by recent stories in the media, incidents of sexual assault can also arise in a variety of other workplaces and organizations.

Is it sexual harassment? Maybe… completely… not at all!

September 20, 2022

When HR departments become aware of a complaint, they should ask themselves the threshold question: If what is alleged is true, does it breach our policies or statutes? A recent decision of the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal (“the Tribunal”),…

Serious insight for serious situations.