Media Appearances
When journalists across Atlantic Canada need legal insight, they turn to the team at Valent Legal. Our lawyers have been sought out to speak on the cases and issues that matter most to people in this region, from landmark class actions to individual fights for accountability.
Valent Legal Local News Features
From CBC and Global News to The Star and Canadian Lawyer Magazine, our coverage spans national and regional outlets across the country.
Most Recent News Features
NS Youth Detention Centre's Handling of Sex Crime Allegations Under Scrutiny
October 1, 2025
Mike Dull, leading a class action against the Nova Scotia government over a swim instructor’s alleged decades-long sexual abuse of incarcerated youth, argued the province should have known what was occurring in a closed, supervised setting where hundreds of people were affected.
Nova Scotia Court Finds RCMP Constable Liable for Unlawful Arrest
August 19, 2025
Mike Dull represented Sean Naugle after a retired RCMP constable was found to have unlawfully arrested him, arguing the case demonstrates why the civil justice system matters — noting that the court carefully examined all evidence, including the officer’s testimony, and found it not credible.
RCMP Sued By Nova Scotia Woman Over Alleged Harassment
August 19, 2025
Mike Dull challenged the RCMP’s claim that it owed no duty of care to female officers working alongside a known sexual harasser, arguing the force has a fundamental responsibility to protect the people within its own workplace.
Fredericton Psychiatrist Faces Individual Lawsuits Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations
July 15, 2025
Basia Sowinski filed four individual lawsuits against a Fredericton psychiatrist and the University of New Brunswick on behalf of plaintiffs alleging sexual assault and medical negligence, noting the pivot from a mass-tort approach was made to better serve each plaintiff’s unique circumstances.
Nova Scotia Woman Settles Lawsuit Over Degrading Dry Cell Confinement
June 18, 2025
Mike Dull represented Lisa Adams in a landmark settlement after she was held in a dry cell for 16 days, stating her advocacy around the invasive and unlawful practice of dry cell confinement ultimately led to it being banned across Canada.
Frank Magazine Sued Over Non-Consensual Publication of Intimate Image
October 3, 2024
Basia Sowinski represented a woman suing Frank Magazine after it published a partially nude photograph of her without her consent, a photo originally shared privately a decade prior, with the lawsuit asserting the publication violated her reasonable expectation of privacy and served no legitimate public interest.
Province Agrees to $1.275 Million Settlement in New Brunswick Jail Fire Class Action
July 24, 2024
Basia Sowinski represented 162 claimants who suffered physical and emotional injuries after being trapped during a 2017 jail fire in Shediac, New Brunswick, securing a tentative $1.275 million settlement pending court approval.
Celebrated Newfoundland Writer Sues Acadia Divinity College Over Alleged Sexual Assault by Professor
January 3, 2024
Basia Sowinski filed a civil suit on behalf of author Christine Wunderli against Acadia Divinity College, arguing the institution was vicariously liable for a professor’s alleged sexual assault and battery, having placed him in a position of authority over a vulnerable student while failing to adequately screen, supervise, and protect those in his care.
"It's Validating" — Lawyer for Waterville Class Action Responds to RCMP Investigation
July 13, 2023
Mike Dull, representing approximately 200 individuals in a class action alleging decades of sexual abuse at the Nova Scotia Youth Centre in Waterville, called the RCMP’s formal investigation validating for clients who long feared their experiences would not be believed — noting the civil suit gave many the courage to come forward to police.
Texas Man Sues Nova Scotia Monastery After Monk Allegedly Filmed Him Showering
June 15, 2023
Basia Sowinski represented a man in a civil suit against a Cape Breton monastery after a monk allegedly installed a hidden camera in a shower, stating the firm’s aim was to help their client address the harms suffered from an egregious breach of his privacy.
Former Student Sues Over Historical Sexual Assault by Yarmouth Teacher
May 24, 2023
Mike Dull filed a lawsuit against the Tri-County Regional Centre for Education on behalf of a former student who was allegedly sexually assaulted by a teacher around 2000–2002, arguing the teacher deliberately cultivated a position of trust with a vulnerable 14-year-old through private meetings, counselling, and ongoing personal attention.
Newfoundland's Aging Jail Condemned as Unfit, Lawyer Warns of Charter Violations
November 28, 2022
Mike Dull, representing inmates in a class action against the Newfoundland and Labrador government, argued that dangerous temperatures and inhumane conditions at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary constitute cruel and unusual punishment, stating that sacrificing people’s human rights over budgetary concerns is inconsistent with Canadian law.
Justice Must Be Measured by More Than Prison Time
October 20, 2022
Mike Dull argued that employers must be held vicariously liable when those placed in positions of authority abuse vulnerable people in their care, emphasising that prior mental health issues do not diminish a victim’s entitlement to compensation — and that exploiting an already vulnerable population makes the wrong even worse.
Valent Legal Donates $40,000 to CMHA Nova Scotia in Support of Anti-Stigma Initiatives
December 14, 2021
Mike Dull donated $40,000 on behalf of Valent Legal to the Canadian Mental Health Association Nova Scotia, stating he has witnessed firsthand how mental health stigma disadvantages individuals within the justice system, and that respect and dignity are basic human rights for all people.
Insurance Companies Settling Car Accident Claims at 50–100% Below Fair Value
September 16, 2021
Mike Dull warned that insurance companies routinely offer settlements far below what injured clients can recover with legal representation, noting he provides free advice to car accident victims daily to protect them from being misled about their rights.
NS Appeal Court Clarifies How Confidentiality Orders Carry Over From Criminal to Civil Cases
November 27, 2020
Mike Dull represented a woman pursuing a civil lawsuit against the British government after allegedly being gang-raped by Royal Navy sailors in Nova Scotia, successfully establishing that criminal confidentiality protections automatically extend to interrelated civil proceedings — a decision he noted could serve as important precedent in future cases.
Halifax Woman's Police Complaints Over Sexual Assault Investigation Failures Not Uncommon
January 29, 2020
Mike Dull filed suit in Nova Scotia Supreme Court on behalf of a woman whose sexual assault investigation was mishandled by police, alleging investigators failed to collect evidence, attend the crime scene, or interview witnesses — and that his client was wrongfully labelled a liar from the outset of the investigation.
Lawsuits Allege Known Sexual Predator Preyed on Boys at Waterville Youth Training Centre for 21 Years
February 24, 2019
Mike Dull filed lawsuits on behalf of seven men against the Nova Scotia government, alleging the province allowed a known sexual predator to abuse boys held at the Waterville Youth Training Centre for over two decades, with survivors suffering lasting psychological, emotional, and economic harm as a result.
More Sex Abuse Claims Expected Against Halifax Man, Lawyer Says
February 4, 2019
Mike Dull represented multiple clients in civil lawsuits against a Halifax hockey coach, baseball coach, and teacher convicted of sex offences, explaining that his clients pursued legal action seeking both validation and compensation for harms suffered during childhood.
Halifax Lawyer Files Class Action to End Solitary Confinement in Nova Scotia Prisons
October 2, 2018
Mike Dull filed a proposed class action on behalf of former inmates challenging Nova Scotia’s use of solitary confinement, arguing that consecutive periods exceeding 15 days constitutes cruel and unusual punishment in violation of Section 12 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
RCMP Sued By Nova Scotia Woman Over Alleged Harassment
November 16, 2016
Mike Dull challenged the RCMP’s claim that it owed no duty of care to female officers working alongside a known sexual harasser, arguing the force has a fundamental responsibility to protect the people within its own workplace.