06/01/2026
The Supreme Court of Canada has recognized a new tort for intimate partner violence. What does this mean? Survivors can now sue their abusers in civil court under a cause of action specifically designed to capture the full reality of abuse.
Currently, existing laws (assault, battery, etc.) only address individual harmful acts. These laws fail to capture the sustained patterns of coercion and control that define abusive relationships. The new Canadian tort of intimate partner violence creates a new area of law meant to address and compensate victims of domestic violence.
To succeed in suing an abuser, a survivor must show:
✅ The abuse occurred within an intimate partnership
✅ The abuser acted intentionally
✅ The conduct amounted to coercive control
It is important to note: this isn't just about isolated incidents. It's about one partner deliberately dominating the other on an ongoing and continual basis.
In this case, Ms. Ahluwalia endured years of abuse that controlled her career, her relationships, and her freedom to make her own choices. The Court found she met the new standard.
By the time the case made it to the Supreme Court, the parties had already reached an agreement for Mr. Ahluwalia to pay a lump sum of $100K. However the court commented that damages in these cases should be higher than under traditional torts, because coercive control causes harms that go beyond physical or psychological injury alone.
A massive step forward for survivors. 💙
Mint Legal has experience representing clients where family violence is involved. For more information or to set up a free consult, call us today 587-602-3302
