Human Rights Violations

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We Will Fight to Protect Your Rights

In Ontario, employees, contractors, and other workers are protected by the Ontario Human Rights Code.

If you are an employer, click here.

What Are Your Protected Rights?

Human rights violations occur when an individual’s rights are infringed upon, often by another individual or organization. This can manifest in many different ways, including discrimination or harassment based on:

  • Age
  • Ancestry, colour, race
  • Citizenship
  • Ethnic origin
  • Place of origin
  • Creed
  • Disability
  • Family status
  • Marital status (even if you are single)
  • Gender identity, gender expression (whether you identify as Trans or even if you are cisgender)
  • Receipt of public assistance
  • Record of offences
  • Sex (including sexual harassment, pregnancy, or breastfeeding)
  • Sexual orientation (even if you are straight or cisgender)

If you believe that you have been discriminated against on any of these grounds, our human rights lawyers can help you understand your rights and take action to protect them.

Discrimination and harassment can take many forms and may be difficult to detect or prove without the help of an experienced human rights lawyer. You don’t have to face these issues alone – our team can help assess the situation and determine the best course of action to protect your rights.

What Are General Damages In Human Rights Violations Cases?

General damages are non-taxable funds paid to the employee, without deductions of any sort, to compensate for the injury to your dignity, feelings, and human rights violations. In other words, they are intended to compensate you for the emotional and psychological harm caused by the discrimination or harassment you’ve experienced.

The amount of general damages awarded in a human rights case can vary widely, depending on the circumstances of the case. On the low end, it may be a few thousand dollars, while in more severe cases it could be as much as $30,000 or more. Ultimately, the amount awarded by an adjudicator or vice-chair at the Tribunal will depend on a range of factors, including the discriminatory events, their degree, effect, and various other factors that can mean a big difference in the amount awarded.

What Are Special Damages in Human Rights Cases?

In addition to general damages, you may also be entitled to special damages if you’ve suffered financial losses as a result of discrimination or harassment. Special damages compensate you for lost wages and other expenses. These funds are generally taxable, but there are ways a skilled human rights violations lawyer can help you structure a settlement to minimize your tax liability when possible.

If you were let go, you may also be entitled to lost wages from the date of termination until the date of a hearing, or until you find comparable employment. Other expenses, such as legal fees or medical expenses related to your injuries, may also be compensated through special damages.

Why Choose Achkar Law?

Our human rights lawyers have years of experience helping individuals navigate human rights violations.

Whether you’re seeking general damages for emotional and psychological harm or special damages for financial losses, you’ll understand your options.

I encourage you to contact us for a review of your case. Unlike other firms, our phone lines and chat (located at the bottom right of this page) are staffed by Case Assessment Coordinators who are adept at assessing whether consulting with one of our lawyers can provide the assistance you need. And isn’t that what matters most to you right now? All without any initial cost to you.

If a Case Assessment Coordinator recommends a paid “Strategy Session” with a lawyer, you’re on the right path to advance your interests and receive your full entitlements.

There’s no reason to settle for less.

Call or message us now, free of charge, and find out if a Strategy Session can help you.

We’re proud to be recognized as one of the top-rated law firms in the Toronto GTA, with an exceptional track record of positive outcomes for our clients. See our outstanding Google Reviews below.

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What Our Clients Are Saying

Marlyse Lafleur
2 days ago
From the first consultation with the Paralegal, MacKenzie, to the follow up staff and now with Babak Sankari, I feel I have the right firm to guide me through this stressful time in my life as a former employee. They really have your back, very supportive, friendly, professional and thorough. I am only in the beginning stages of negotiation and I already feel so much relief and confidence that I chose the right law firm! Regardless of how this plays out, just knowing Babak is available for a chat or email is amazing with short notice. Thank you for listening and respect. I highly recommend Achkar Law and their incredible team!
Greg Bowen
3 days ago
Wonderful experience working with Nicholas. I feel much more informed and confident to make the right decisions going forward.
Response from the owner:Hello Greg, thanks so much for sharing this! Making big decisions is a lot easier when you feel clear on your options, and Nicholas takes real pride in walking clients through it all. We appreciate you trusting our team, and we wish you the very best in whatever comes next.
Victor Pirvulescu
1 week ago
Great overall experience! I reached out with some urgency and they were able to set up an appointment the following day. Very organized and well educated in terms of my specific topic. Would recommend!
Response from the owner:Hi Victor, thank you so much for the great review! We know that legal matters often come with a sense of urgency, so we always do our best to get clients in quickly and prepared. It's wonderful to hear that came through for you. Thanks for the recommendation, and we're here anytime you need us.
Claire Morand
1 week ago
Christopher provided me with the support and answers that I needed. Thank you!
Response from the owner:Hi Claire, thank you so much for the kind words! It was a pleasure working with you, and I'm really glad I could provide the support and answers you needed. Don't hesitate to reach out if anything else comes up down the road.
AM
2 weeks ago
Very professional and supportive team handling my constructive dismissal case. They explained everything clearly and made the process much less stressful. Highly recommend
Response from the owner:Hi AM, thank you so much for sharing your experience! Constructive dismissal cases can feel really overwhelming, so we're glad our Toronto team could walk you through everything and take some of the stress off your shoulders. Your recommendation means a great deal to us, and we wish you all the best moving forward.
Yusri Shabaro
2 weeks ago
I am incredibly grateful to Achkar Law for helping me navigate a very challenging professional situation. From my very first meeting, I knew I was in expert hands. My senior litigation lawyer, Gareth D'Costa, was absolutely phenomenal. He took the time to truly listen to my goals and looked out for my family’s best interests every step of the way. Gareth is a brilliant strategist—he cut through the noise, kept me calm under pressure, and negotiated a fantastic final outcome that gave me complete peace of mind. He is sharp, highly responsive, and deeply empathetic. I also want to thank Jason Jagpal and the rest of the team for keeping the administrative side of things moving so seamlessly behind the scenes. They were transparent about every detail and handled my file with the utmost integrity. If you need a legal team that will genuinely fight for you while treating you like a human being, I highly recommend reaching out to Gareth at Achkar Law. Thank you all for the outstanding support!
Response from the owner:Hi Yusri, wow, thank you so much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful review. We're truly grateful. Gareth will be so glad to hear this. He genuinely pours himself into every file, and knowing that his strategy, responsiveness, and care helped bring you and your family peace of mind means the world. Jason and the rest of the team will also be thrilled to know their work behind the scenes made a difference. We always strive to treat our clients like real people going through real moments, not just files on a desk, so reviews like yours remind us why we do what we do. Wishing you and your family all the very best ahead, and thank you again for trusting Achkar Law.
Cheryl Taylor
3 weeks ago
Very appreciative of Babak amazing lawyer thank you so much!!
Response from the owner:Hi Cheryl, thank you so much for the kind words! Babak will be thrilled to hear this. He genuinely cares about every client he works with, and it's wonderful to know you had such a positive experience. We're grateful you took the time to share, and we're always here if you need us again.
Russ Sherk
3 weeks ago
Jason got me the answers I needed.
Response from the owner:Hello Russ, thank you for the kind words! Getting straight answers can make all the difference, and Jason takes pride in doing exactly that for his clients. We appreciate you trusting our team, and don't hesitate to reach out if anything else comes up.
Charles H.
4 weeks ago
Well keep up the great work. Thank you.
Response from the owner:Hi Charles, thank you so much! We really appreciate you taking the time to leave a review, and we'll definitely keep at it. Looking forward to seeing you again soon!
John Haley
4 weeks ago
Used Achar Law's 1-hour consult. Very pleased with the results. The lawyer I talked to was very knowledgeable and helpful
Response from the owner:Hello John, thanks for the kind words! It's great to hear the consultation gave you the clarity and direction you were looking for. We know legal questions can feel overwhelming, so we're always happy when clients leave feeling informed and confident. Wishing you all the best, and we're here if you ever need us again.
Dragan Eskic
1 month ago
With the open and sincere conversation, I was able to get help that I needed.
Response from the owner:Hello Dragan, glad the conversation gave you the clarity you were looking for. Straightforward discussions can make all the difference when you’re trying to figure out next steps. Thanks for sharing.
Maurice Viel
1 month ago
very helpful look continue to have your firm assist me in my issue thank you
Response from the owner:Hi Maurice, glad to hear things have been helpful so far. We look forward to continuing to assist you. And that’s a great photo. The horse looks fantastic. Thanks for sharing!
crystal allen
2 months ago
I had a very positive and comforting experience during my meeting with Nicholas. He answered all of my questions openly and honestly and completely eased my mind and made me very comfortable. I would completely recommend Achkar Law to absolutely anyone that has an issue with an employer.
Response from the owner:Hi Crystal, it’s good to hear the conversation with Nicholas helped put things in perspective and made the situation feel more manageable. Clear, straightforward discussions can make a real difference when dealing with an employment issue. We appreciate you sharing this.
Steven Hackney
2 months ago
Outstanding. I was referred to Jason Jagpal for assistance in negotiating my severance. From initial contact with the para that answered the main office line, through to final discussions with Jason, the entire experience was flawless: highly organized, effective, to the point. Jason was fully briefed before starting our meeting and provided clear unambiguous guidance. His recommendation was centered around what was the best approach for me, not for him. In the end, with his advice helped me get to a completely satisfactory agreement with a minimum of cost, time and energy. Five stars for sure.
Response from the owner:Hello Steven, We are glad to hear the process felt organized and straightforward from start to finish. Taking a clear, practical approach to severance negotiations can make a big difference in both outcome and efficiency. We’ll make sure Jason sees this. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience.
Hanna Tellier
2 months ago
I had a one hour session with Matthew. It was so informative. He validated me on what has been going on, and told me what potentially be possible for my case. He explained everything in detail. I also talked with grayce over the phone at first and she was amazing! Definitely people that care. Definitely would recommend 🙂
Response from the owner:Hello Hanna, it’s good to hear the session gave you clarity and helped you better understand your situation. Feeling heard and having things explained properly can make a big difference. We’ll be sure to share your feedback with Matthew and Grayce. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
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