Joan Luss was a tort attorney, "tort" being a legal term meaning "a civil wrong," recognized as grounds for a lawsuit.

Mr Justice Michael White's judgment creates a new civil wrong covering the long term control and manipulation exercised by an abuser over their victim.

The Bill, published yesterday, makes it a tort (or civil wrong) for which damages can be sought to violate a person's privacy.

As for Canada, relevant laws have been in flux in recent years with "intrusion upon seclusion" now recognised as a tort, or civil wrong.

Journalists and lawyers are accusing each other of committing criminal offences, civil wrongs and professional misconduct.

Thus, although the trial of criminal causes still remained with the military, the courts could not withdraw civil wrongs from the verdict of civilians.