How Much Are Courts Awarding Victims of Intimate Partner Violence?

Until recently, if you were a victim of domestic abuse then your sources for a remedy were somewhat limited:  You might look to the criminal law (to formally lay charges against the perpetrator), or you might pursue a civil action against them, for what often turns out to be a relatively modest damages award.

But – in the right circumstances – that last part seems to be improving.

The Supreme Court of Canada’s recent landmark ruling in Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia, 2026 SCC 16 is perhaps the culmination of a long-established concept in this country’s Family Law system: IPV is qualitatively different from ordinary interpersonal conflict.  It often involves patterns of domination, intimidation, isolation, financial control and emotional abuse that may continue for years.

With this in mind, Family courts not only recognizing this distinction, but are also awarding significant damages to victims in the right scenarios.  For example:

• In Montgomery v. Kenwell, 2017 ONSC 3107 (CanLII), the plaintiff experienced repeated physical violence throughout a 14-year relationship. The court awarded $75,000 in general damages, expressly noting that the law was moving away from an era in which victims of inter-spousal assault routinely received only nominal compensation.
• A few years earlier, in Sorrenti v. Blair, 2013 ONSC 2584 (CanLII), the victim endured about 10 years of abuse before suffering a fractured arm that required surgery. It resulted in permanent physical limitations. The court awarded her $75,000 in general damages, noting that the perpetrator had also been criminally convicted of assault.

Since those earlier decisions, the courts have continued along that path.

• In Pichie v. Pichie, 2024 ONSC 2868 (CanLII), the plaintiff was subjected to physical, emotional, psychological and financial abuse that culminated in a criminal assault. She suffered both a frozen shoulder and lasting psychological trauma. The court awarded $75,000 in general damages, together with $25,000 in aggravated damages and additional compensation for loss of earning capacity.
• Most recently, in Simon v. Reis, 2026 ONSC 3743 (CanLII), the Ontario court reviewed many of the earlier authorities awarding damages on the higher end. Although the evidentiary record was more limited than in some previous cases, the court nevertheless awarded $60,000 in general damages and a further $30,000 in aggravated damages. The perpetrator’s repeated assaults, attempted strangulation, and the abuse of a trust-based relationship were key factors, as was the fact that he continued the violence against the victim even despite being criminally charged

In addition to awarding significant damages, these more recent rulings also reveal an important development:  Courts recognize not merely the physical injuries suffered by IPV victims, but also other harms that may include anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, humiliation, loss of self-worth and persistent fear – which can last long after those physical injuries have healed. They are every bit as real as broken bones, and the courts have become increasingly willing to compensate them accordingly.

Of course, every case turns on its own facts. The severity and duration of the abuse, the available medical evidence, the lasting physical or psychological effects, and the particular losses suffered by the victim will all influence the amount ultimately awarded.

If you’re a victim of IPV and think you might be entitled to compensation, give our Law Firm a call.  Our experienced lawyers can help you evaluation your rights and explore your legal and financial remedies.