Canadian Claims Review

When you are a survivor seeking justice there is a lot to consider. What is the right path for me? What does the process look like?

In this interview with Braving Healing we discuss what happens when you contact a lawyer about childhood sexual abuse (CSA)?

If you're a survivor considering legal action, Jeffery Preszler walks you through what actually happens when you reach out to a lawyer. You do not have to share every detail of your trauma right away and you're not expected to.

In this video, we explain:

What information lawyers need during the first call 📞

What a civil claim process looks like step by step ⚖️

What kind of records might be requested 🗂️

What happens if the perpetrator has passed away

How contingency fees work (you don’t pay unless the case is won) 💼

And how long things usually take

You’ll also learn how survivor experiences are centered with care, respect, and confidentiality and how legal action can support both justice and healing.

A Survivor’s Guide to Starting Legal Action LEARN MORE at https://BravingHealing.comPreszler Law: https://www.preszlerlaw.com/What Happens When You Contact a Lawyer About Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA)?I...

We’re sharing this important conversation featuring Joseph Fearon, lawyer at Preszler Law, in a film created by Braving Healing.

In this short video, Joey explains how civil litigation is becoming one of the most powerful tools for protecting children and holding institutions accountable.

Unlike criminal cases, which often punish only individuals, civil lawsuits directly impact the institutions that failed to protect survivors — forcing change through financial accountability.

Thanks to the bravery of survivors stepping forward, we are seeing real-world changes:

New safety measures

Stronger accountability policies

And, in some cases, bankruptcies for institutions that chose not to protect children.

This is how survivors are using their voices, and the law, to reshape the future. 🛡️

🎥 Watch the full video here:

How Survivors Fight Back Against Broken Systems Institutions once covered up child abuse to protect their power—but civil litigation is changing the game.Joseph Fearon, lawyer at Preszler law, concludes t...

Why More Survivors Are Turning to Civil Claims in Canada

For many survivors of childhood sexual abuse, the criminal justice system can feel like a dead end. It often places the burden of proof entirely on the survivor, demands retraumatizing testimony, and can result in no conviction at all.

But there is another path—one that centers the survivor’s voice and agency.

The civil claim route allows survivors to seek accountability and compensation from individuals or institutions that enabled or failed to prevent abuse. Unlike the criminal system, the civil route does not require a criminal conviction and uses a lower burden of proof (“balance of probabilities” instead of “beyond a reasonable doubt”).

This means survivors can:

Tell their story on their terms.

Hold organizations accountable for systemic failures.

Gain financial compensation for the lifelong impacts of abuse—therapy, lost income, and more.

Move forward in a way that feels empowering rather than defeating.

While no legal route can undo the harm, the civil process can offer a chance to be believed, to reclaim power, and to make change.

👉 If you're a survivor in Canada wondering about your options, know that you're not alone.

During an interview with Braving Healing , Joseph Fearon, a lawyer here Preszler Law discusses the silence and shame surrounding CSA can make survivors feel alone, but breaking that silence creates a powerful ripple effect. Each story shared means someone else feels a little less alone, a little less burdened by stigma.

The Untold Impact of Civil Claims on CSA Stigma What can be profound about  civil claims is when people bring their story forward, other survivors don't feel alone. Survivors offer something invaluable, ho...