Family Matters: Mothers as Secondary Defendants in Child Sexual Abuse Actions

Supreme Court Law Review, Vol. 17, No. 179, 2002

41 Pages Posted: 14 Jul 2008

See all articles by Denise G. Reaume

Denise G. Reaume

University of Toronto - Faculty of Law

Shauna Van Praagh

McGill University - Faculty of Law

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Date Written: January 1, 2002

Abstract

In this paper we focus on the emerging possibility for mothers to be joined, either by the plaintiff or as a third party by the primary defendant, in actions by an adult child for sexual abuse committed by a father figure. Such actions are premised on the argument that the mothor was either negligent or in breach of her fiduciary obligation in failing to protect the child from injury at the hands of the father, and they create an obvious dilemma for mothers who may find it virtually impossible to provide effective protection for their children given conditions within the family.

Suggested Citation

Reaume, Denise G. and Van Praagh, Shauna, Family Matters: Mothers as Secondary Defendants in Child Sexual Abuse Actions (January 1, 2002). Supreme Court Law Review, Vol. 17, No. 179, 2002, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1159755

Denise G. Reaume (Contact Author)

University of Toronto - Faculty of Law ( email )

78 Queen's Park
Toronto, Ontario M5S 2C5
Canada
514-398-6694 (Phone)

Shauna Van Praagh

McGill University - Faculty of Law ( email )

3644 Peel Street
Montreal H3A 1W9, Quebec H3A 1W9
Canada

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