Faith-based Institutions

Harper Grey lawyers have been providing assistance to faith-based institutions for over a decade. Be it providing general advice on such issues as human rights, wrongful dismissal, sexual misconduct and general risk management or representing the institutions in litigation, Harper Grey recognizes and respects the unique interests and objectives of these institutions. At times, this requires that an innovative approach be taken, such as devising adaptations to the usual discovery processes to ensure that claimants, who are often themselves associated with the institution, do not feel revictimized by the process. Similarly, our lawyers have considerable experience in a variety of forms of alternative dispute resolution.

At other times, when it is in our clients' interests to do so, we have advanced cases through the traditional litigation process, including to the Supreme Court of Canada. In Blackwater v Plint, which was decided by the Supreme Court of Canada in 2005, we were involved in establishing the law settling the extent and scope of institutional liability in sexual assault claims.

In addition to assisting faith-based institutions with individual disputes, Harper Grey lawyers have participated in multi-party negotiations directed to resolving thousands of claims on a nation-wide basis with respect to the operation of Indian Residential Schools in Canada.