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Loretta P. Merritt

Tel: 416 777 5404  Fax: 1 888 497 8644
Email: lmerritt@torkinmanes.com

Loretta is one of the few lawyers in Ontario who has substantial experience in dealing with abuse and harassment in civil lawsuits and employment cases. She understands and cares about abuse survivors, recognizing that coming forward, being heard and acknowledged as well as gaining a sense of justice and closure, in addition to the amount of a settlement, are what matter to her clients.

She has represented hundreds of clients in a variety of historical and recent sexual and physical abuse cases, including abuse by members of clergy, doctors, police officers, teachers, relatives and neighbors. Many of Loretta’s cases involve institutions such as school boards (both public and private), churches, children’s clubs, children’s aid societies, boy scouts, big brothers, group homes and training schools. She represents adults and children, men and women, plaintiffs and defendants.

Loretta provides information for victims of sexual assault who are trying to decide whether to sue. See Sexual assault: should survivors sue?

Loretta’s civil litigation practice also includes traumatic injury litigation (motor vehicle cases, medical malpractice, and products liability).

Recipient of the 2018 Ontario Trial Lawyers Association’s (O.T.L.A.) John A. McLeish Award

Loretta has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in Canada© since 2013 for Personal Injury Litigation.

She has been recognized by her peers in the Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory as a leading lawyer in personal injury litigation. Lexpert is the leading lawyer rating service in Canada.

Loretta is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. The Litigation Counsel of America is an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society. Fellows are selected after being evaluated on effectiveness and accomplishment in litigation and trial work, along with ethical reputation.

She has Martindale-Hubbell’s highest possible Peer Review Rating: General Ethical Standards Rating V (very high), and Legal Abilities Rating A (very high to pre-eminent). For more information on Loretta’s Martindale-Hubbell rating, please click here.

Loretta is in Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers™ - exclusively for women lawyers who have received the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards from their peers.

In 2012, Loretta was presented with the Diamond Jubilee Medal, commemorating the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne, in recognition of her contributions to Canada in representing abuse survivors.

In 2013, Loretta was selected as a recipient of the Litigation Counsel of America’s inaugural Peter Perlman Service Award. The award recognizes LCA Fellows who have contributed in meaningful ways to society by giving their time and resources in an effort to improve the lives of others.

Loretta is also a recipient of the Gold Key Award for Service from Osgoode Hall Law School.

  • Presentation | May 2021
    Practicing in the Pandemic: The New Normal

    OTLA Spring Conference

  • Presentation | April 2021
    Making the Most of Expert Evidence

    OTLA Webinar

  • Article | March 2021
    Economic Losses in Civil Sexual Assault Cases

    Torkin Manes LegalPoint

  • Presentation | February 2021
    Civil Sexual Assault: Critical and Emerging Issues

    Osgoode Professional Development

  • Presentation | February 2021
    Mentoring

    Torkin Manes

  • Presentation | February 2021
    Compensation and Financial Management

    Torkin Manes - Justicia Committee

  • Presentation | January 2021
    Imposter Syndrome

    Torkin Manes - Justicia Committee

  • Presentation | December 2020
    Financial Management of Your Practice

    Torkin Manes

  • Article | December 2020
    Publication Bans: Do They Help or Hurt Abuse Survivors?

    Torkin Manes LegalPoint

  • Presentation | December 2020
    Litigating Class Actions Claims Amidst Profound Change

    12th Annual Class Actions Colloquium presented by the Canadian Bar Association

More Speaking & Writing
  • The Advocates' Society
  • Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow
  • Mensa Canada Society
  • Ontario Bar Association
  • Ontario Trial Lawyers Association - Board of Directors
  • Panel Lawyer, Ministry of the Attorney General's Independent Legal Advice for Survivors of Sexual Assault Pilot Program
  • Co-Chair, Torkin Manes United Way Campaign
  • Mentor for the Practice Advisory Service, The Law Society of Upper Canada
  • Mentor for the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association
  • Mentor for first year students at Osgoode Hall Law School
  • Mentor for young lawyers - CBAO Lawyer to Lawyer Network
  • Member of the Osgoode Hall Alumni Association Board of Directors and Chair of the Nominations Committee
  • Member and VP of the York University Alumni Association, Board of Directors and Member of the Nomination Committee
  • Child Abuse Survivor Monument Project – Steering Committee member
  • Toronto Child Abuse Centre – member and volunteer for the Court Observation Project regarding child witnesses
  • Counsel to the Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness
  • Occasional "Judge" for the Osgoode Hall Law School and University of the Toronto Law School Mooting Assignment
  • Student Advisor for first-year law students and assistant to the Co-Chairman of the Orientation Committee, Osgoode Hall Law School
  • Duty Counsellor and Caseworker at the Community and Legal Aid Services Program and the Latin American Community Centre
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada—Big Sister

Teaching Roles:

  • Queen's University - Trial Advocacy (1997-2004)
  • Bar Admission Course - Public Law and Professional Responsibility (1996-2004)
  • University of Toronto, Scarborough - Legal Environment of Business, Part-time Professor (1987-1990)

Credentials

  • Called to the Ontario Bar, 1987

Education

  • LL.M., Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, 1990
  • LL.B., Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, 1985