BC sexual assault victim awarded $266,000 after suing attacker

CONTENT ADVISORY - This article contains details about sexual assault that could be triggering for some. A BC hairdresser who was sexually assaulted by a client while cutting his hair in her home has won $266,000 after she successfully sued her attacker. According to a March 25 BC Supreme Court decision, the woman — whose name is covered under a publication ban — took civil action against Kevin Jeremy Greif two years after he was criminally convicted of sexually assaulting her. The Justice's ruling means Greif will have to pay $266,750 to the hairdresser – providing he has the money. While sexual assault victims sometimes sue institutions, often in historical cases of abuse, it's rare in British Columbia for individuals to sue the person who sexually assaulted them. The decision says in June 2017, the woman referred to as K.K.M., was living in Campbell River and self-employed cutting hair in her home. She cut Grief's hair before he then sexually assaulted her in the kitchen. "He pulled up her shirt and bra, pulled down her skirt, put his fingers in her vagina, pushed her down and slapped her butt," BC Supreme Court Justice Christopher Giaschi said in the decision. "She did not know how long the assault lasted but the defendant did stop before penile penetration." After Grief assaulted her she went outside and had a cigarette with him. "She was unable to explain why she did that," the Justice said. She later told her mother who called the police. Two years later, Grief was convicted of sexually assaulting her and sentenced to 27 months in jail. He later appealed the conviction but lost. The hairdresser was 32 years old at the time of the sexual assault and almost 40 when the civil case went to trial. READ MORE: Big changes coming to Kelowna’s tent city after ‘spring cleanup’ https://infotel.ca/newsitem/big-changes-coming-to-kelownas-tent-city-after-spring-cleanup/it108609 The woman argued that since the sexual assault she had suffered guilt, sham, and low self-esteem, had become introverted and developed a fear of men. After being sober since her early 20s she had a desire to start drinking again and had been unable to attend AA meetings which had been an important part of her life. She was also unable to continue cutting hair. While the Justice acknowledged these aspects, the woman had suffered from depression, anxiety and sleep issues before the sexual assault. The decision goes through a lengthy analysis of what conditions the woman suffered from before the sexual assault and how they had changed since the event. Over the four-day trial, Justice Giaschi accepted parts of her evidence but not all of it saying she was vague and inconsistent. "I am of the view that she exaggerated and embellished the effects of her injuries," the Justice said. "(Her) evidence of the psychological effects of the sexual assault was compelling but somewhat disjointed in that, for the most part, she did not provide dates or a coherent explanation of how her symptoms changed or developed over time." The woman argued that had it not been for the sexual assault she would have continued her studies and become a social worker. READ MORE: Kelowna has more hate crime than Kamloops as incidents increase across Canada https://infotel.ca/newsitem/kelowna-has-more-hate-crime-than-kamloops-as-incidents-increase-across-canada/it108593 "I accept that (she) was unable to work for several years following the assault and I accept that she is unable to cut hair in her home except for her mother and close friends," the Justice said. "However, I do not accept that she is unable to work in any capacity. She has not explained why she is unable to cut hair in a salon." Justice Giaschi is also critical of several expert reports evaluating her psychological trauma and her ability to work in the future. The Justice says he accepts that she can no longer work as a hairdresser or a support worker, as she once did, but doesn't accept a report from an occupational health consultant that stated she wasn't able to work in any capacity. The Justice points out she was working shortly before the trial and was doing well. Justice Giaschi does accept that the sexual assault left her with emotional injuries, including anxiety, hyper-vigilance, fear, flashbacks, nightmares, rumination, panic attacks and avoidance behaviour. Ultimately, the Justice came to a conclusion in assessing where she is now in life, compared to where she would be if the sexual assault hadn't occurred. "It is clear that the sexual assault caused an aggravation or amplification of (her) existing medical conditions," Justice Giaschi said. Ultimately, Justice Giaschi awarded her $263,750 in damages. — If you or someone you know has been impacted by sexual violence, contact Archway Society for Domestic Peace at 250-542-1122, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or www.archwaysociety.ca http://www.archwaysociety.ca . All programs are easily accessible, free of charge and confidential. To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer mailto:bbulmer@infonews.ca  or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. 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