Allegations of sexual harassment: Aubut continued for 448 000$

Photo Martin Alarie and archives
“They are going to rummage through my past, treat me as a liar and say that the time-limit is prescribed, but that they do so. I have nothing to lose and I will not release it any not the song “, says the lawyer Amelia S. Fouques, which invokes the post-traumatic shock to explain the time limit before prosecution.

Pierre-Paul Biron

Wednesday, 18 October, 2017 00:00

UPDATE
Wednesday, 18 October, 2017 00:00

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Lawyer Amelia S. Fouques has filed a civil suit against Marcel Aubut, claiming nearly half a million dollars for three episodes of alleged sexual harassment.

The lawyer, who had come out publicly in 2015 to accuse Marcel Aubut harassment, returned to the charge two years after the scandal broke out on the big day. I Fouques said today no longer want to be silent.

“I refuse to be complicit in this silence on the case of harassment “, she confided in an exclusive interview with The Journal.

After having asked the Barreau du Québec to review her complaint about the attorney emeritus last week, the woman now addresses the courts. It calls for 448 000 $ Marcel Aubut to three events that allegedly took place between 2011 and 2014.

She alleged that the lawyer of Quebec would have kissed her by force to a recovery, in addition to her make sexual innuendos on two other occasions (see box). According to her, the acts alleged would have had the effect of causing ” irreparable damage to his reputation, his confidence and his self-esteem “.

She also adds that the fact of see Aubut denied the allegations to the trustee of the law society has added to its ” moral suffering “.

Contacted by The Newspaper, Marcel Aubut has indicated through his lawyers that he would not comment on the record, ” out of respect for the judicial process “.

For the victims

Amélia S. Fouques said to take these steps especially for other alleged victims of Marcel Aubut, who are not all lawyers, and who do not necessarily have the baggage legal to throw the ball in judicial proceedings.

She wants to show these women, “who have become friends,” that they may be in control of their lives. “I can’t force them to complain because I know what that means. But we need to stop being afraid of it. We need to enforce our laws, period. […] It is time that people understand that it has to be zero tolerance of harassment “, declared the lawyer who said ” do not be interested in the money “.

A foundation should see the day soon to come to the aid of victims of aggression who would like to undertake legal actions. This is where the plaintiff wants to invest the money of the lawsuit.

“The foundation will be called “no fear”. I want to release women from the role of victim and place them on an equal footing with attackers. We will help financially to continue with the civil, to engage in public relations, lawyers, etc, They will revert control “, wish Me Fouques.

Ready for anything

By engaging in this judicial process, Amelia S. Fouques said expect to live difficult moments. It anticipates what the clan Aubut may submit as a defense, but she assures, ” do not be afraid “.

“I realize today how much I was traumatized by these events. […] It has broken something in me, but I am willing to tell in front of him, looking at him in the eyes, ” insisted the one who also asked the Bar to take a position on the behaviors alleged Aubut, in addition to wish for the prime minister to the dispossessed of the Order of Canada.

That is Amélia S. Fouques ?

• Lawyer specialized in sports law
• Has sat on the board of directors of Soccer Canada
• She came out publicly in 2015 in the wake of allegations of harassment at the place of Marcel Aubut
• She accuses the lawyer of having had an inappropriate behavior towards her three times
• She has filed a complaint with the Bar association in 2015, prior to requesting a reopening of the record a week ago
• She is now suing the lawyer in the civil, calling for 448 000 $

Excerpts from the prosecution

“At the conclusion of this meeting, and while the defendant raccompagnait the plaintiff to his taxi, the latter attempted a violent kiss, unsolicited, or encouraged by the plaintiff, and this, in any way whatsoever “

“The second public meeting […] was during the World of women’s soccer in Montreal, where the plaintiff then accompanied her son was asked by the defendant the moment they were going to sleep together “

“The third meeting took place in Québec at a gala sports, when the defendant indicated to the plaintiff that he would join her in her hotel room “

“Since the events, the claimant is in question, has taken a step back as to his presence in public life, no longer participate in any meeting, working mostly alone in his home, whereas before, she was rather sociable. His personality is so joyful has changed dramatically “

Case Marcel Aubut – The complainant anonymous reveals

Screenshot CTV

Leanne Nicolle, former director of the canadian olympic Foundation.

The first complainant which were revealed anonymously to the scandal Aubut in 2015 is finally identified in an open letter this week. Leanne Nicolle, former director of the canadian olympic Foundation, said they want to ” be part of the solution “.

Two years after having filed a complaint anonymously to the canadian olympic Committee, Leanne Nicolle has published an open letter in the Globe and Mail where she tells the story of what could have been for him to live Marcel Aubut during his time at the head of the olympic Foundation.

“It was powerful “

“He was the boss, I wasn’t. He had support, I had none. It was powerful, I wasn’t. He could say and do what he wanted, I couldn’t, ” confided Ms. Nicolle in the letter published last Saturday.

In an interview with CTV, which was part of the executive of the olympic movement in canada has spoken openly about the abuse verbal and sometimes even physical that it would have experienced. Behaviors she believed to be “benign” in the beginning, but that quickly turned according to his words.

“At first, I said “look at this old man, took in prehistoric times and which has never received the memo on equality between men and women”. […] But, there was a power dynamic at this time. And there was physical contact that was inappropriate. Hugs are inappropriate that were definitely elsewhere, ” says Leanne Nicolle.

Denounce the omerta

With its public release, the ex-director of the canadian olympic Foundation wishes to break the silence that often reigns around the cases of sexual harassment, a climate which reigned during its passage to the olympic movement.

“All the world knew. Everyone in the sport knew. It has never been correct, but the canadian olympic movement had this code of silence. It was a structure based on power. […] But silently, it is not part of the solution, ” insisted Leanne Nicolle, in the interview to the English-language network CTV.

Contacted by The Newspaper, Ms. Nicolle has refused to comment on the lawsuit filed by ms. Amelia S. Fouques against Marcel Aubut, stating that his interview with CTV was going to be his only output on the subject.