UPDATE: Accuser Files Lawsuit Against Universities, Anglican Church and Estate
Wagners Law Firm has filed a civil lawsuit for sexual assault, filed last month in the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, and naming the board of governors at King’s, Dalhousie University, the Anglican Diocesan Synod of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and Hankey’s estate.
UPDATE: Wayne Hankey, Professor at Dalhousie University: Wagners Investigates Civil Actions
Wayne Hankey a former Professor at Dalhousie University and King’s College was charged in February 2021 with sexual assault arising from a complaint of abuse dating back to 1988. On March 26, 2021, Hankey entered a not guilty plea and asked for a trial by judge alone.[1] The trial is currently scheduled for March 3, 2022.“[39]
On April 13, 2021, Halifax police charged Hankey with sexual assault dating back to 1982 as a result of a complaint by a new male victim. Additionally, the Police charged Hankey with indecent assault dating back to 1977-1979 as result of a complainant of a differing male victim.[31] On June 1, 2021 further charges of sexual assault indecent assault were added for the 1977-1979 incidents.[41] On July 23, 2021, Hankey entered a not guilty plea in regards to these charges and trial dates are pending.
On May 4, 2021, Raymond F. Wagner of Wagners was interviewed by the CBC in regard to the Wayne Hankey charges and the independent review currently undertaken by King’s College:
Ray Wagner, a Halifax lawyer who often litigates class action, said a civil lawsuit against King’s is almost guaranteed.
“People are coming forward in the criminal context. If they’re brave enough to come in the criminal context, they’re surely going to bring a civil action,” said Wagner, who is a graduate of the Dalhousie law school and also disclosed his law firm is a major contributor to the school’s restorative justice lab. “I would wager a pretty good set of odds that this is going to happen.” [38]
On May 14, 2021 on again be interviewed by the CBC Raymond F. Wager of Wagners that he expects further victims to come forward:
“People get empowered by the fact that others — the brave ones — have broken the ice and have come forward and put their names out as victims to this and put their circumstances out there. It does empower people.” [40]
This is the not the first time that it has been alleged that Mr. Hankey committed indecent sexual acts. On July 29, 1981, Hankey was caught by King’s campus security at a pool at King’s College, naked and giving a piggyback ride to a naked male who was a suspected minor. [33] The incident was reported to the president of King’s at the time John Godfrey. [34]
In 1990, King’s College received a complaint against Hankey for sexual abuse dating back to 1977-1979. The Anglican Church hired a private investigator to investigate this allegation as well as the 1981 pool incident. [35] The Anglican ecclesiastical court charged Hankey with immorality and Hankey was subsequently stripped of his religious duties and office.[3] Despite these allegations, Hankey was allowed to return to teach at King’s and was subsequently employed as a professor at Dalhousie University.[4]
On April 7, 2019, Hankey approached Aaron Shenkman a member King’s College Chapel Choir and also Student at King’s College and invited them to dinner at his home. On April 8, 2019, Hankey made sexual advances at his home on Aaron Shenkman.[5] In October 2019, Aaron Shenkman complained to the University of King’s College Chapel’s Assistant Director, the University of King’s College’s president, and the University of King’s College’s chaplain about Hankey.[6] On November 19, 2019, Halifax’s Cathedral Church of All Saints banned Hankey from the chapel.[7]
Dalhousie and the Halifax Regional Police have both encouraged those who believe that they have been victimized to come forward and report their experiences.[17]
Civil Lawsuits against Hankey, King’s College, and Dalhousie University
It is likely that, civil lawsuits will be filed against Hankey and King’s College and/or Dalhousie University as result of the sexual abuse allegations. Generally, in these instances, these types of lawsuits will claim that educational institutions failed to protect the victims and failed to take steps to remove an individual when they became aware, or ought to have been made aware, that there were allegations that an individual was committing sexual abuse or exploitation. The purpose of these lawsuits is for victims to see monetary compensation for pain and suffering, lost income, valuable services, and the cost of care (e.g. psychological counselling). Wagners has the experience required to help you navigate your historical sexual abuse claim. We understand it may take years or even decades for a victim to come forward.
No Time Limit on Bringing Sexual Assault Claims in Nova Scotia
In 2015, the Nova Scotia Legislature made amendments to the Limitation of Actions Act, SNS 2014, c 35 which removed any time limitation on when a lawsuit must be filed in regard to sexual abuse. This means that historical victims of sexual abuse that are now ready to come forward can initiate lawsuits despite the fact the abuse happened years or even decades previously.
Chronology of Accusations and Charges of Sexual Abuse against Wayne Hankey
- In the 1960s, Wayne Hankey was instrumental in developing and instituting the Foundation Year Program at King’s College, which now attracts students from across the country to King’s.[18]
- From 1972-1978, Wayne Hankey was the director of the Foundation Year Program at King’s College.[19]
- From 1981-1993, Wayne Hankey was the College Librarian at King’s College.[20]
- On July 29, 1981, Hankey was caught by King’s campus security at a pool at King’s College, naked and giving a piggyback ride to a naked suspected minor. [36] The incident was reported to the president of King’s at the time John Godfrey. [37]
- On December 4, 1990, King’s College received a complaint in regards to Wayne Hankey. The complainant alleged that Hankey had abused him from 1977 to 1979 while he attended King’s College as a student.[21]
- An Anglican ecclesiastical court charged Hankey with “immorality” and sanctioned him.[22] The full details of the trial and decision were never fully released to the public. However, the Chronicle Herald has obtained a copy, and reports that Hankey admitted to the sexual acts recognizing the age difference and that the acts were outside the confines of marriage.[8]
- On April 16, 1991, King’s investigative committee authored a written report but this was never full released and apparently has been destroyed or lost.[9] Notably, the report was authored by two close friends of Hankey: Dennis House and Angus Johnston.[10] Subsequently, Hankey was suspended for one year and would not return to King’s for a further two years.[23] Hankey was suspended from his religious role at King’s, a role that was never reinstated, and ordered to undergo counselling.[24]
- In 1993, Hankey returned to Kings’ College to teach.[25]
- In 1996, Hankey became a full professor at Dalhousie University,[26] where he served as Chairman of the Department of Classics for seven years.
- In 2015, Hankey retired from King’s but continued to teach at Dalhousie as a Professor Emeritus.[27]
- On April 7, 2019, Hankey approached Aaron Shenkman a member King’s College Chapel Choir and invited them to dinner at his home.
- On April 8, 2019, Hankey made sexual advances at his home on Aaron Shenkman.[11]
- In or about October 2019, Aaron Shenkman complained to the University of King’s College Chapel’s Assistant Director, the University of King’s College’s president, and the University of King’s College’s chaplain about Hankey.[12]
- In November 19, 2019, Halifax’s Cathedral Church of All Saints banned Hankey from the chapel.[13]
- In September 2020, it was reported to police that Hankey had sexually assaulted a man in student housing in 1988.[28]
- In February 2021, Hankey stopped teaching at Dalhousie and King’s.
- On February 1, 2021, Hankey was charged with one count of sexual assault on a male stemming from the 1988 allegation.[29][30]
- In March of 2021, King’s hired Rubin Thomlinson LLP to conduct an internal third-party review to investigate how the school handled the Hankey allegations.
- On March 4, 2021 Dalhousie University announced it would fully co-operate with King’s investigation.[14]
- On March 26, 2021, Hankey entered a not guilty plea and asked for a trial by judge alone.[15]
- The trial is currently scheduled for February 24, 2022.[16]
- On April 13, 2021, Halifax police charged Hankey with sexual assault dating back to 1982 as a result of a complaint by a new male victim. Additionally, the Police charged Hankey with indecent assault dating back to 1977-1979 as result of a complainant of a differing male victim.[32]
- On May 13, 2021, the media reported that Hankey’s criminal defence lawyer was seeking third party records from one of the alleged victims. Often the third party-records are notes recorded by counsellor, therapist, psychologist or doctor; hospital records; records from a child welfare or social service agency; records from an employer or school; and the victim’s personal journals.
- On July 23, 2021, Hankey entered a not guilty plea in regards to these charges laid on Aril 13, 2021.[1]
[1] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/former-king-s-professor-pleads-not-guilty-to-sex-assault-1.5965615
[2] https://www.capebretonpost.com/news/provincial/former-kings-prof-pleads-not-guilty-to-historical-sexual-assault-charge-568954/
[3] http://archives.anglican.ca/en/list?q=&p=1&ps=&sort=title_sort+asc&topic_facet=Hankey%2C+Wayne+J.+(Wayne+John)%2C+1944-
[4] https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/featured/wayne-hankey-a-founding-director-of-kings-colleges-foundation-year-program-is-charged-with-sexual-assault/
[5] https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/news/the-man-who-would-be-kings-halifax-professor-wayne-hankey-kept-in-classroom-despite-decades-of-transgressions-100574199/
[6] https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/news/the-man-who-would-be-kings-halifax-professor-wayne-hankey-kept-in-classroom-despite-decades-of-transgressions-100574199/
[7] https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/news/the-man-who-would-be-kings-halifax-professor-wayne-hankey-kept-in-classroom-despite-decades-of-transgressions-100574199/
[8] https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/news/the-man-who-would-be-kings-halifax-professor-wayne-hankey-kept-in-classroom-despite-decades-of-transgressions-100574199/
[9] https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/news/local/former-kings-professor-wayne-hankey-arraigned-on-charge-of-sexual-assault-566834/
[10] https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/news/the-man-who-would-be-kings-halifax-professor-wayne-hankey-kept-in-classroom-despite-decades-of-transgressions-100574199/
[11] https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/news/the-man-who-would-be-kings-halifax-professor-wayne-hankey-kept-in-classroom-despite-decades-of-transgressions-100574199/
[12] https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/news/the-man-who-would-be-kings-halifax-professor-wayne-hankey-kept-in-classroom-despite-decades-of-transgressions-100574199/
[13] https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/news/the-man-who-would-be-kings-halifax-professor-wayne-hankey-kept-in-classroom-despite-decades-of-transgressions-100574199/
[14] https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/news/the-man-who-would-be-kings-halifax-professor-wayne-hankey-kept-in-classroom-despite-decades-of-transgressions-100574199/
[15] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/former-king-s-professor-pleads-not-guilty-to-sex-assault-1.5965615
[16] https://www.capebretonpost.com/news/provincial/former-kings-prof-pleads-not-guilty-to-historical-sexual-assault-charge-568954/
[17] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/wayne-hankey-king-s-dal-sexual-assault-1.5902736
[18] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/wayne-hankey-king-s-dal-sexual-assault-1.5902736
[19] https://ukings.ca/people/wayne-hankey/
[20] https://ukings.ca/people/wayne-hankey/
[21] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/wayne-hankey-king-s-dal-sexual-assault-1.5902736
[22] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/wayne-hankey-king-s-dal-sexual-assault-1.5902736 ; http://archives.anglican.ca/en/list?q=&p=1&ps=&sort=title_sort+asc&topic_facet=Hankey%2C+Wayne+J.+(Wayne+John)%2C+1944-
[23] https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/featured/the-wayne-hankey-case/
[24] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/wayne-hankey-king-s-dal-sexual-assault-1.5902736
[25] https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/featured/the-wayne-hankey-case/
[26] https://ukings.ca/people/wayne-hankey/
[27] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/wayne-hankey-king-s-dal-sexual-assault-1.5902736; https://ukings.ca/people/wayne-hankey/
[28] https://globalnews.ca/news/7612116/wayne-john-hankey-1988-sexual-assault/
[29] https://globalnews.ca/news/7677393/university-of-kings-college-wayne-hankey-review/
[30] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/wayne-hankey-king-s-dal-sexual-assault-1.5902736
[31] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/wayne-john-hankey-sexual-assault-indecent-assault-charges-1.5985391
[32] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/wayne-john-hankey-sexual-assault-indecent-assault-charges-1.5985391
[33] https://www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/news/kings-scandal-the-boy-the-pool-and-the-cloak-of-secrecy-that-protected-sexual-predator-wayne-hankey-for-decades-100582080/
[34] https://www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/news/kings-scandal-the-boy-the-pool-and-the-cloak-of-secrecy-that-protected-sexual-predator-wayne-hankey-for-decades-100582080/
[35] https://www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/news/kings-scandal-the-boy-the-pool-and-the-cloak-of-secrecy-that-protected-sexual-predator-wayne-hankey-for-decades-100582080/
[36] https://www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/news/kings-scandal-the-boy-the-pool-and-the-cloak-of-secrecy-that-protected-sexual-predator-wayne-hankey-for-decades-100582080/
[37] https://www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/news/kings-scandal-the-boy-the-pool-and-the-cloak-of-secrecy-that-protected-sexual-predator-wayne-hankey-for-decades-100582080/
[38] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/king-s-independent-review-sexual-assault-allegations-wayne-hankey-1.6007054
[39] https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/news/former-kings-professor-hankey-seeks-records-in-sexual-assault-case-100587333/
[40] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/civil-lawsuit-wayne-hankey-professor-sexual-assault-1.6022246
[41]https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/wayne-john-hankey-new-counts-of-sexual-indecent-assault-1.6048792
[42] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/wayne-hankey-pleads-not-guilty-assault-charges-1.6114211