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	Pastor Faces $1.3M Sex Suit Woman Says Minister Used the Guise of Counselling to Physically Abuse Her over an 8-Year Period By Sam Pazzano Toronto Sun September 27, 2007 http://torontosun.com/News/TorontoAndGTA/2007/09/27/4530120-sun.html A United Church minister used the guise of counselling sessions for childhood abuse with a Toronto mother of four to sexually abuse her for almost eight years, the woman alleged in a $1.3 million lawsuit. The 53-year-old woman alleged that Rev. William Major, now 64, committed "heinous sexual, physical, and emotional assaults" against her, starting in 1995 shortly after she began to attend Manor Road United Church. None of the allegations have been proven in court. Major was her counsellor when the sexual assaults and battery occurred and that because he was an authority figure and confidant to the woman (referred to as Jane Doe), he should have protected her, instead of violating her, the lawsuit alleged. "Major knew or ought to have known that Jane would follow his instructions without resistance. Jane states that Major knew or ought to have known that he had Jane's absolute trust in all regards and that she would obey Major's instructions and follow his advice in all matters," the lawsuit alleged. FELT 'VIOLATED' "The abuse made the plaintiff feel as if she had been violated as a child. It made the childhood abuse so much worse because she trusted Major so absolutely," said her lawyer Simona Jellinek. "She went to him for help in dealing with childhood abuse and her problems were exacerbated." The woman is seeking $300,000 in general damages for pain and suffering, $500,000 for special damages and $250,000 each for aggravated and punitive damages against Major, a minister for almost 40 years, and the United Church. The lawsuit, filed last month at the Ontario Superior Court, stated "within a month, Major had visited Jane at home with her family and offered to counsel her about issues from her past (sexual abuse by a relative)." Major counselled Jane "at his home in the basement with the doors and windows closed," it alleged. Over the course of a few months, the lawsuit alleged, "Major's behaviour during these sessions gradually changed, becoming more physical," as he "began to hug and then kiss Jane." The sexual behaviour culminated in acts of masturbation, and within a year Major "had progressed from fondling to digital penetration and having oral sex and intercourse with Jane," the lawsuit alleged. "The sexual abuse continued until in or around 2002 when Major was accused by another party of sexual assault," the lawsuit alleged. "Major warned Jane not to tell anyone that he had touched her and continued to counsel Jane in person and by phone although these 'sessions' almost always involved sexualized behaviour," the suit alleged. Major, who is facing one criminal charge of sexual assault against a parishioner, will be in Superior Court in Toronto on Oct. 15 for a pre-trial conference and a trial is likely to be held next year, said his defence lawyer Lynda Lamb. "He is innocent and will be vigorously defended," she said in a phone interview. Major has yet to be served with this lawsuit, but the United Church has filed a notice of intent to defend the action. No statement of defence has yet been filed.
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