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 Attorney General’s Victim Services Award of Distinction for 2021-2022
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. An invitation is extended to less than one-half of 1% of all lawyers in North America. 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.
- The Advocates' Society
- Litigation Counsel of America, Senior Fellow
- Mensa Canada Society
- Ontario Bar Association
- Ontario Trial Lawyers Association - Board of Directors
- Trial Law Institute, Diversity Law Institute and Barrister, Order of Juris
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)
Jan 26, 2023
Loretta P. Merritt quoted by The London Free Press on the civil lawsuit filed against the Thames Valley District School Board
Jan 19, 2023
Loretta P. Merritt was a guest on 4 Questions For the Osgoode Hall Law School podcast
Jan 17, 2023
Loretta Merritt to teach Credibility, Memory and Trauma
Apr 18, 2022
Loretta P. Merritt will be speaking at LEARN, part of the Abuse Hurts HOPE Conference Series
Mar 9, 2022
Loretta Merritt honoured with the Attorney General's 2021- 2022 Victim Services Award of Distinction
Jan 24, 2022
School of Secrets: New Revelations from Inside the Cult
Jan 20, 2022
Ontario Provincial Police reviewing previous investigation into Grenville Christian College
Nov 12, 2021
School of secrets
Nov 3, 2021
Loretta Merritt is representing the plaintiffs in the Camp Wahanowin sexual abuse case
Nov 1, 2021
Systemic Negligence verdict upheld – School’s appeal of common issues trial judgment denied
More News & Media
Dec 1, 2022
Scarborough high school teacher charged with sexual assault
Sep 27, 2022
Hamilton police arrest Bishop Ryan teacher on multiple sexual assault charges
Sep 9, 2022
Ottawa teacher Anis-Ur Rehman, 68, charged after multiple allegations of sexual assault
Aug 16, 2022
Mohawk Camp Counsellor Arrested on Sexual Assault Charges
Jul 25, 2022
North Bay man who used to run halfway house guilty of historic sex offences
May 10, 2022
Under his control - The CBC reports on the case involving Douglas Walker, a school teacher who sexually abused his students in York Region
Apr 21, 2022
Evidence of sexual misconduct found against former Barry's Bay Catholic teacher
Apr 21, 2022
Anglican archbishop facing sexual misconduct allegations resigns
Feb 4, 2022
Former university lecturer and church pastor facing another sexual assault charge
Feb 4, 2022
Former Ottawa teacher guilty of sex crimes against students after preying on teen girls
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