A Brockville judge is now considering his decision on what restitution, if any, is to be given to a victim of sexual assault by former OPP officer Jason Redmond.
The victim, who is referred to as Jane Doe in order to protect her identity, is suing Redmond for approximately $375,000, which includes damages and loss of income.
Jane Doe is also seeking further compensation on top of the $375,000 for legal fees and interest.
Both sides of the civil matter made their cases to judge Patrick Hurley Tuesday afternoon in a Brockville courtroom, and he will make a decision based on the evidence and arguments made.
“No amount of money can make her the person she was before the assault,” stated Gillian Hnatiw, Doe’s lawyer.
Redmond, a former officer at the Ontario Provincial Police’s Leeds County detachment, was found guilty in 2023 of raping Jane Doe while she was unconscious, while also filming the sexual assault to “prove” she had a drinking problem and to “teach her a lesson” about binge drinking.
Redmond, who was not present at the proceedings, is currently serving a nine-year sentence at Dorchester Penitentiary in New Brunswick.
Jane Doe is seeking monetary damages from him related to both the assault itself and events that took place afterward.
Hnatiw argued that Redmond showed the video of the sexual assault to Jane Doe’s friends and many others. She also said Redmond threatened to show Jane Doe’s daughter the video, and show it to any future partners she may have.
Redmond’s defence lawyer claimed that he never showed anyone the video, and that it couldn’t be proven whether or not he did.
Hnatiw also alleged that Redmond harassed Jane Doe at her place of work after the incident. Jane Doe works as a bartender at an establishment that has a remote jukebox that can take requests, and Redmond would allegedly pay to have Loser by Beck play repeatedly while Jane Doe was working. Hnatiw said this happened so often that the bar’s owner ended up unplugging the jukebox.
One of Hnatiw’s main arguments was that Redmond was never convicted of voyeurism and distribution of the video, which is what the current lawsuit is intending to rectify. This is again when Redmond’s defense lawyer reiterated that it can’t be proven that he did distribute the video.
Redmond’s defence lawyer argued that Jane Doe had mental health and substance issues prior to the assault. Judge Hurley then questioned how those issues cause a victim to be sexually assaulted.
Redmond’s lawyer put into question if Jane Doe suffered any new or increased mental health issues, since they were already pre-existing. But Hnatiw had already stated that Jane Doe’s anxiety had gotten significantly worse, and that she had also been diagnosed with PTSD following the assault.
When this lawsuit
was first brought forward in 2023
, Jane Doe was suing Redmond for over $2 million, but she has since revised the amount to about $375,000.
“When you are asking for an amount of money at the beginning of a claim, the plaintiff’s damages haven’t crystallized yet,” said Hnatiw. “We don’t know if they will be able to go back to work or continue to work. It’s regular practice for a lawyer to ask for a big number up front, just because you can’t see the future.”
While the plaintiff is asking for the sum of about $375,000, the defense is seeking a total of about $180,000, strictly related to damages.
Redmond’s lawyer argued that Jane Doe isn’t owed any loss of income since she is back at work.
Hnatiw, meanwhile, claimed that since Jane Doe’s job as a bartender is public-facing, the anxiety in public spaces that she suffered as a result of the sexual assault has hindered her ability to get tips, resulting in a loss of income.
The proceedings at the Brockville courthouse Tuesday afternoon lasted about two hours.
Judge Hurley will review the case, and is expected to make a decision within three months.
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