Sexually abused daughter of custodial father gets $600,000 judgement (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada)

The dad, identified only as I.B., sexually assaulted his daughter between the ages of 5 and 9. Note that dad had "sole custody." But not a word here on how he got it, or who in authority gave him custody. Can't have any judicial accountability, can we?

Hat tip to Joan for finding this.

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2130034

B.C. incest victim awarded $600,000 judgment
Keith Fraser, Canwest News Service
Published: Wednesday, October 21, 2009

A 19-year-old Victoria woman who suffered horrific sex assaults at the hands of her father has been awarded nearly $600,000 in damages.

The girl, identified only as C.C.B. in a B.C. Supreme Court ruling, sued her father, identified only as I.B., over sex assaults that occurred while she was between the ages of about five and nine years old.

The crimes were reported to police in 1999 and after a 19-day criminal trial, I.B. was convicted and sentenced to six years in prison. He was released from prison in 2008, but for the civil lawsuit he chose not to appear or be represented by a lawyer.

B.C. Supreme Court Justice Victoria Gray concluded that the victim suffers from an anxiety disorder, depression and intrusive thoughts about the abuse, lack of trust in others and low self-esteem and educational underachievement.

The judge said the plaintiff was entitled to a "significant" award of damages because of the severity of the abuse and the many aggravating factors.

"The defendant was the plaintiff's natural father and sole custodial parent, and in a relationship of trust," said the judge. "The plaintiff had little support from anyone else, because the defendant kept her from school and insisted that she spend time with him, and as a result the plaintiff was extremely vulnerable."

The plaintiff was awarded $250,000 for pain and suffering, $300,000 for future earning capacity and $41,800 for cost of future care. Though the defendant did not appear at trial, his father recently passed away and the judge said the inheritance is available to be applied to the judgment.