Crown and defence lawyers debated sentencing recommendations last week in the case of convicted sex offender Elie Amram, a former Rosemount High School teacher in Montreal. The victim, whose name is protected by a publication ban, is now in her 30s, and also filed a civil suit this year against Amram’s employer, the English Montreal School Board (EMSB). She is seeking $1.2 million in damages “arising from being groomed and repeatedly sexually abused by a teacher” while a Secondary 5 student. “Instead of the school being a safe place for X [the victim] to learn, develop, and grow, Elie Amram (“Amram”), an employee of the EMSB assigned to teach at the school, abused his position of authority and trust to take advantage of her, resulting in the devastating consequences known to be suffered by survivors of sexual assault,” the civil suit read. Amram was found guilty of sexual assault of a minor in November for offences in 2011, while he was “in a position of authority.” His sentencing date is set for Feb. 1. The victim’s lawyer, Robert Kugler, said the civil case is a way for his client to get justice. “She suffered significantly,” he said. “She was a teenager at the time, an excellent student, and her marks began to drop precipitously. She, like many victims of sexual abuse, got into drugs and alcohol. Her marks began to become quite a bit worse. That affects your career prospects.” He continued: “Her social relationships changed. Her relationship with her parents changed. There has been a tremendous amount of pain and suffering, and there has also been a loss of capacity to earn the type of income that she would have earned if this had not happened.” Kugler has represented hundreds of assault victims, adding that while it’s never easy to relive traumatic abuse, it “can be quite liberating to get it off their chest to be believed.” “To get justice, that can be very helpful and can significantly improve the remainder of the lives for these victims,” he said. “She is telling the truth. She will be listened to by a judge. A judge will listen and take care to listen to her, and that in and of itself is a form of justice. That somebody is there to listen, to hear her story. She no longer has to suffer in silence alone.” While the criminal trial is in its final stages, the civil case is at its outset. The guilty plea proves, said Kugler, that the victim is telling the truth. He said he was always sure she would be believed. “If there had not been a guilty plea, she would still be telling the truth,” he said. “Does the fact that there is a judgment that has already found that she is telling the truth and that the abuser was not help? I suppose it does.” This is not the first time the EMSB has been sued in civil court in connection with a sexual assault case. Last month, the EMSB was ordered to settle a lawsuit between $3.4 million and $8.725 million over sexual assault allegations from Lachine High, Victoria and FACE schools students against former principal Phillip Baugniet. Baugniet died in 2025, while his criminal trial was ongoing. The EMSB said it would not comment on either case, as they remain before the courts. If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis:
