A third man who claims he was sexually assaulted by a now-dead Winnipeg minor hockey coach and lawyer is suing over the alleged abuse — with the latest lawsuit now accusing minor hockey associations of knowing of the coach’s predatory behaviour.
Robert (Bob) Dawson died by suicide at a city hotel in October 2021 at age 57, six weeks after Winnipeg police charged him with sex assault and a slew of other sexual offences over allegations he repeatedly abused two boys between 1993 and 1995 while he was a coach in the Assiniboine Park Hockey Association.
Police said shortly after his death that sex crimes investigators had spoken with further potential victims following the public announcement of the initial charges.
The new lawsuit, filed in Court of King’s Bench on Sept. 27 by lawyer Karen Wittman of Myers LLP on behalf of an anonymous man, is the third civil action taken against Dawson’s estate since 2022.
The latest court filing names the executor of Dawson’s estate, Hockey Canada, Hockey Manitoba, Hockey Winnipeg and the Assiniboine Park Hockey Association as defendants.
The previous two lawsuits, which remain before the court, solely made claims against Dawson’s estate.
According to his statement of claim, the plaintiff played hockey for the Rangers in the Assiniboine Park Hockey Association between the fall of 1993 and 1995, when he was 13 to 15, as Dawson was a coach and the team’s manager.
The new lawsuit alleges Dawson used the “opportunities, unfettered access and authority” afforded to him by the hockey organizations to embark on a “grooming and victim-finding expedition, intent on finding the most vulnerable among the minor athletes on the Rangers to prey upon, exploit and ultimately sexually assault.”
The plaintiff, referred to as John Doe in the court papers as his lawyer intends to seek a publication ban and sealing order on his identity, resides in Manitoba and is now in his mid-40s.
As a member of the Assiniboine Park association, the plaintiff was also a member of the other hockey organizations, the lawsuit says.
The court papers allege Dawson routinely asked the youth players — including the new plaintiff — inappropriate questions about personal topics, including their sex lives, told them they could talk to him about sex, directed them to flex their muscles while in states of undress, took photos of them undressed, entered and lingered in their hotel rooms and found opportunities to graze his genitals on them.
“Generally (Dawson) tested the minor athletes’ reactions, including the plaintiff’s, to determine which minor athletes he could prey upon, and which were going to push back,” read the court papers.
The court filings accuse the hockey organizations, particularly other Rangers coaches, of being aware of Dawson’s “initial predatory behaviour and abuse,” or at minimum having knowledge that he had a propensity for inappropriate and sexually abusive behaviour.
The new John Doe claims Rangers coaches — excluding Dawson — held at least one team meeting during the 1994-1995 season to warn the youth athletes to “never be alone with Dawson.”
After initial grooming, the new court papers claim, Dawson learned the plaintiff had an unstable home life with little support.
He arranged for the young athlete to earn money by doing filing work for his law practice at his home office during the 1994-1995 season, the lawsuit says.
In early 1995, Dawson picked up the plaintiff and plied him with alcohol at his home, before asking him to “assist him in making a video Dawson said was for the Law Society of Manitoba on the dangers of witnessing childhood sexual abuse,” the lawsuit alleges.
Dawson then allegedly physically and sexually assaulted the teenager, including by forcing him into bondage gear and restraining him and fondling and masturbating him, while documenting the attack, the court filing claims. The plaintiff says he feared for his life.
“Following the sexual assaults, Dawson used his position of power and influence… to pressure and intimidate the plaintiff into agreeing not to disclose the sexual assaults to others,” the court filing alleges.
The plaintiff is seeking damages from the estate executor for breach of duty, negligence, assault, battery and intentional infliction of harm.
He’s seeking damages from the hockey organizations for breach of duty and negligence and damages holding them vicariously liable for Dawson’s actions, alleging the associations had a duty to protect him and others from harm, among other obligations.
The suit is also seeking special damages, damages for loss of past and future income, damages for the cost of care and treatment, and aggravated, punitive and exemplary damages.
None of the defendants have responded to the allegations with statements of defence. None of the hockey organizations responded to requests for comment Monday.
erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca
Erik Pindera
Reporter
Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Erik.
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