About the Sexual Abuse Services Group

The Sexual Abuse Services Group (SAS) is a victim-centered group run by a group of individuals with a long history of compassionate advice and counsel, significant success in creating programs of services and treatment and, success in winning judgments that contribute to the well-being of clients.

Victim-centered quite simply means acting in the victim’s best interests. This means finding the services, programs, treatments and counseling victims need to heal.

Our focus is resolution and recovery for the victim. Our job, as we see it, is to restore dignity, self-worth and improve well-being. This is the first and most important step on the road to recovery.

To help victims make the first step John Swales, a survivor of sexual abuse, is the first point of contact for victims in our group.

John is our Sexual Abuse Services Advisor. John understands the betrayal and carries the pain of sexual abuse. He is also a successful survivor. He has now dedicated himself to helping other victims by sharing his learning, assisting with programs and treatment recommendations and just by being there when needed.

John believes that no victim should have to face the burden of sexual abuse alone. It’s an opportunity to talk, confidentially, about sexual abuse, with someone who knows and understands. With no obligation and no judgment, John is a victim’s first call to the Sexual Abuse Services Group.

Sometimes the recovery process requires restitution. When, and if, the victim is ready, the SAS will act on a victim’s behalf with legal action to address and redress the sexual abuse.

The SAS legal team has significant experience and expertise in working with victims. The Group’s victim-first philosophy drives their work from treatment and program design to lawsuits. Victim’s interests come first. And the victim’s well-being is foremost. It is not unusual for a relationship with SAS team members to span 10 years or more. The team is committed to doing what it takes to support, counsel and provide for a victim’s well-being.

The SAS legal team is headed by Dave Williams, Harrison Pensa’s Managing Partner. Dave has extensive experience in dealing with victims of sexual abuse, personal injury and other abuses of power and authority. Lou Crowley is another experienced lawyer, specializing in victims’ work ranging from sexual abuse to personal injury. Both Dave and Lou firmly believe in applying the law to secure the judgments and settlements required to improve the conditions and well-being of their clients.

Donna Tarr is the group’s legal clerk and victim liaison. Donna has been working with victims and managing their programs for over 20 years. Donna works with victims on recovery programs, coordinates the professional services and ensures that programs and treatments are funded and undertaken as prescribed. She does her very best to ensure the journey is as smooth as possible for victims.

What makes our group different and, we believe, right for sexual abuse victims?

The Sexual Abuse Services Group has deep experience specific to victims. This group has as its victim contact a survivor of sexual abuse. John is also an activist on behalf of victims and a leader and driving force in helping victims find resolution and recovery.

The Group has significant legal representation with Dave and Lou, two top lawyers with successful records in securing the judgments required for victim well-being. And, victims can rely on Donna for program management and ultimately, peace of mind.

The Group also has the significant resources of one of southwestern Ontario’s most successful law firms, and its commitment to do what it can to help victims find resolution and recovery.

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