Manitoba woman sues province, CFS agency over sexual abuse claims

A Manitoba woman claims she was sexually assaulted while in foster care more than 40 years ago and is now suing the province and a Child and Family Services agency.

The woman, who is now 52, says the abuse happened while in a foster home in Brandon in the 1970s, according to a statement of claim filed in Brandon Court of Queen's Bench last Friday. 

The claim alleges she was in the care of the Children's Aid Society of Brandon at the time, which is now known as Child and Family Services of Western Manitoba. 

She was placed in the home of a Brandon man when she was 9, and during her time there was shown pornography. The statement of claim alleges she was groomed by the man and given cash and new clothes in exchange for sex, according to court documents. 

"He commenced to sexually assault her, fondling her for his sexual gratification," read the woman's statement of claim. 

The sexual assaults started when she was about 12 and consisted of fondling and touching her genitals, according to the claim. 

The woman claims that despite telling her social worker that she didn't feel safe at the home and wanted to leave, she wasn't removed from the placement. She threatened to run away and did so when she was 14, according to the claim. 

"The social worker did not act on these disclosures, did not remove plaintiff, did not refer the matter to police for investigation," her statement read. "And by her inaction exposed the plaintiff to sexual assaults." 

She also suggested in the documents that another girl, referred to as her foster sister, was also abused in the same household. 

The woman believes the social worker, the agency and province failed to do their duty to remove her from the house within a reasonable timeframe. According to the woman's claim, she was told no alternate placement was available at the time. 

A lawyer for the woman told CBC News that he doesn't believe the man was ever criminally charged for his alleged actions. 

The claim is seeking damages but no monetary amount was listed in the court documents. The woman claims she suffered and continues to suffer from emotional and psychological distress and trauma, depression, anxiety and loss of opportunity for employment as a result of the abuse. 

The allegations have not been proven in court.

No statement of defence has been filed. 

The Manitoba government would not comment on the matter because it is before the courts.