Human Rights Violations

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 team of human rights lawyers has years of experience in helping individuals navigate the complex legal landscape surrounding human rights violations.

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

Unlike other firms, our phone lines are staffed by specialists 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, without spending a cent?

If our intake specialist recommends a “Strategy Session” with one of our experienced lawyers, you can rest assured knowing that you’re on the right path.

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.

Scroll down to call or message us now to speak with an intake specialist free of charge and find out if a Strategy Session can help you.

What Our Clients Are Saying

4.5

F Lauw

Had a great consultation with Chris! He was able to see me quite quickly and put me at ease during a very stressful time with his expertise and clear questions. He provided me with multiple options based on my situation and set me on course in the right direction. Thank you!!

Anthony Dinatale

Chris was super helpful and amazing to work with.

Alain Matar

I recently had a consultation with Charlie Millar, and I must say, the experience from start to finish was outstanding. From the initial contact with the company to accommodating an urgent call, everything was handled seamlessly. Charles was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable, showing a clear understanding of my situation. I'm thoroughly impressed and will definitely reach out to him for any future inquiries

Monique Crichton

I had a consultation with an employment lawyer and it went so well. Leading up to the meeting the clerk was responsive, informative and helpful; not to mention very polite. When I had the opportunity to sit with the lawyer she was friendly, attentive, and very well educated. She gave me honest answers to all my questions and provided me with all my options very clearly. It was a pleasure to talk with her and it made me feel a lot better about my situation. She calmed me down and made me feel heard and that I am not alone.I would recommend them to others.

mike battista

Initially, when I had the opportunity to speak with Charles Millar. I was impressed. I consider him a "man of refreshing candour", knowledge, and kindness. I have been dealing with Charles now for several months. He follows up in a timely manner. He's been on point with his recommendations; I feel very confident that his action plans are very well thought out and structured. It has been a pleasure consulting with him. I will be recommending him to friends and family. True professionals like Charles are definitely hard to come by.Thank you.

Christina

Mariel was informative and well knowledged the team takes time to express their care and concern . Worth the consult . They provided me so much direction with confidence . Thank you !!

Gisele Godin

I was in distressed for 24 hours when I unexpectedly lost my job yesterday. This morning, I had a meeting, and it turns out, I'm not the only one in this position when it comes to employment and that makes this stress less heavy. Thank you Achkard Law for your support and expertise.Looking forward to working with you.Gisele

kenneth smith

The whole team, from the start with Rachel and Charles to the conclusion of the hard work and success by Natalie was very positive. I have never been in a situation of constructive dismissal or without a job. They were an outstanding resource and well worth it. I hope they continue to expand their business and hopefully come out west. I would certainly recommend this company and particularly Natalie.

Derrick Ransom

A very positive experience with professional and forward thinking individuals. Thank you for the hard work.

Marco Tasca

Excellent, professional and thorough. Communication was always clear and concise and they were open and available for questions and support throughout the whole process. Everyone I dealt with at the office was great. Thank you Madison, Charles and Natalie for your quality work! Couldn't be happier with the process from beginning to end and of course, the result.

Kay Zee

Christopher was extremely supportive during a transitional period at my workplace. Together, we explored my options, and his guidance was consistently insightful. I had an outstanding experience and would certainly enlist his services again anytime in the future.

Matthew Mccormick

I had spoken with Mariel. She was really sympathetic and made everything easy to understand. Calmed my nerves and explained everything fully.

Leandra LeGendre

I had the pleasure of working with Chris regarding a severance package. He was thorough, asked great questions, and made sure things I hadn't thought about were covered and that I was being treated fairly. In addition to being happy with the quality of Chris' work, he was kind and even asked about my daughter. He clearly cares about people and that value came through in our conversations which I appreciated.

Rachel Lea Heide

My first consultation meeting with associate lawyer Mariel was very positive and helpful. I really appreciated her questions, empathy, listening, and expertise and advice she was able to give even at the very beginning of my file. If my work situation doesn't improve, I do look forward to working with Mariel and the Achkar Law firm team to tackle the issues.

Jennifer quirk

I had a great experience. Great team, very helpful and understanding. Will use them again in the future.

Mac MacGillivray

Madison was a great resource and put my mind to ease. I look forward to working with Madison to resolve my claim. Achkar Law took the time to research my concerns, were quick to respond on line and spoke to a lawyer within 24 hours. They provide kind and friendly service and care about their clients.

Adam Buchnea

Charles was very knowledgeable and resolute during our strategy consultation. I appreciated having skilled eyes on our contracts, which will undoubtedly pay off in the long term.

Dakota Little

I had a talk with Charles Millar, and he was a gentleman and a scholar. Very knowledgeable and extremely helpful. He demonstrated in depth understanding of the rules and laws surrounding my issue, which made me feel comfortable in his representation.I’ll continue to utilize the skills of Charles as well as the rest of his team.

J. T.

Charles is an absolute professional. He is approachable and answers all the questions that I have regarding my case. He read through all the materials that I shared with him before the meeting, so that I did not need to repeat myself. Our strategy session was very productive, and he shared all the actionable steps and provided great legal advice. I will reach out to him again if we need additional help.

Greg Dixon

Great people to talk to if you need adviceOn a problem you are not sure of give them a call and get it off your mind the best in the business