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.
- The Advocates' Society
- Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow
- Mensa Canada Society
- Ontario Bar Association
- Ontario Trial Lawyers Association - Board of Directors
- 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)
Jan 7, 2021
Precedent setting win in Grenville Christian College class-action suit is featured in Toronto Life
Nov 27, 2020
Loretta Merritt speaks to the CBC on convicted sex offender Donald Sullivan
Sep 17, 2020
Loretta Merritt quoted in several publications on Roman Catholic diocese appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada
Sep 11, 2020
Loretta Merritt will be speaking at the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association 2020 Fall Conference
Sep 4, 2020
Loretta Merritt was a guest on The Happy Lawyer Podcast
Aug 6, 2020
Loretta P. Merritt interviewed about new rules for institutional abuse cases
Aug 4, 2020
Loretta P. Merritt spoke to Collingwood Today on abuse victims struggling with the class-action process and outcome
Jul 6, 2020
Loretta Merritt to speak at Ontario Trial Lawyers Association Webinar on July 16
May 21, 2020
Loretta Merritt wins landmark Court of Appeal case setting aside an 18 year old settlement
Feb 28, 2020
Torkin Manes partners with Abuse Hurts to hold a winter clothing drive benefiting Indigenous women
More News & Media
Dec 9, 2020
Sexual Assault Trial begins for Ruben Lazar former vice principal at Forest Heights Collegiate Institute
Jul 8, 2020
Ontario school board found 'vicariously liable' in sexual abuse case
May 11, 2020
Jeffrey Peters charged with four historic sexual assault charges and six charges of sexual exploitation
Jul 10, 2019
Former TVDSB vice principal Michael George Dennis accused of sexual relationship with student
Jun 27, 2019
Charges against Prince Edward County Children’s Aid Society executive director Bill Sweet regarding sexual abuse in foster homes he was responsible for.
May 24, 2019
Lawsuit targets convicted sex offender Ron Léger, Catholic religious order and Archdiocese of St. Boniface
May 24, 2019
Paul Bruce Harper, 21, of Garden Hill First Nation, faces multiple counts of sexual assault, sexual interference, aggravated assault and assault. Three people have been charged with sexual, physical abuse of 17 children and there may be 150 victims
May 16, 2019
Former Sudbury teacher going to jail for sex crimes
Mar 20, 2019
Former priest charged with historical sexual assault
Sep 27, 2018
Loretta Merritt speaks to CBC News and The London Free Press on the London Diocese sexual abuse case settlements
More Cases to Watch