Senior Counsel Simona Jellinek recently shared her insights with Canadian Lawyer on Ontario's proposed civil justice reforms. Highlighting the importance of trauma-informed principles, Simona emphasized how these changes could significantly impact sexual assault survivors and personal injury plaintiffs.
She discussed key concerns, such as the proposed pre-litigation protocol and the removal of discovery, which could have devastating consequences for vulnerable litigants, creating substantial barriers to justice. While advocacy efforts have successfully led to some beneficial adjustments to the initial proposals, Simona stresses that there is a pressing need for a more thorough, trauma-informed analysis. This is essential to ensure that any reforms genuinely promote equitable access to justice for all, particularly those who are most at risk.
Read the full article to delve deeper into Simona's comprehensive perspective on these reforms and what they mean for the future of Ontario's civil justice system.