A recent Supreme Court of Canada decision has recognized a new tort of intimate partner violence that may allow survivors to sue their abusers for damages. That means a survivor may have another way to seek financial compensation for harm caused by coercive control, intimidation, isolation, financial abuse, and other forms of abuse.
Domestic violence is rarely limited to one incident. It can build over time. An abuser may control your money, monitor where you go, cut you off from family, friends or work, make threats, or create fear in daily life. For many survivors, that harm continues long after the relationship ends.
Having this recognized in civil law is important. It helps name the harm more clearly. It also acknowledges something survivors and those working in this field already know: abuse isn’t always visible, and coercive control can have serious and lasting effects.
For some survivors, this decision may provide another way to seek accountability. That matters, especially when other systems haven’t fully addressed what happened or the impact it had on their life.
Still, suing an abuser is difficult. Civil court can be expensive, stressful, and hard to understand. If you’re dealing with safety concerns, housing instability, parenting responsibilities, trauma, financial pressure, or other legal issues, starting another legal process may feel overwhelming.
That’s why this decision needs real support behind it. A legal option only helps when survivors can access the information and support they need to use it safely.
Survivors still need safe housing, legal information, counselling, financial help, and people around them who understand the risks that can come with leaving. Accountability matters. Safety has to remain the priority.
At JMMF, we see every day that survivors are looking for more than a legal outcome. They’re working to rebuild safety, stability, confidence, and independence. Legal recognition can help name the harm, while community support helps survivors move forward.
This decision is progress and the next step is making sure survivors can actually access the support, information, and safety they need so this legal recognition can lead to meaningful help.
Further reading
[Learn more about the new tort of family violence]
[Learn about the survivor whose case helped move this forward]
