A former sex worker in Nova Scotia has successfully sued a client in small claims court for non-payment of services. She and her advocates hope the decision will change the legal landscape for sex work in Canada.
The case relates to an incident in January 2022 when Brogan, whom CBC News is only identifying by her first name because she is a survivor of human trafficking, spent an evening with a client.
Afterward, the client refused to pay the agreed-upon fee.
Brogan then turned to small claims court to recover the money — in what advocates believe is the first time such a case has come before the courts in Canada — and won a judgment that she was entitled to the unpaid amount, plus interest and costs.
"It kind of opens the doors and sets the tone," says Brogan, who is now working as a peer support worker. "Any steps towards having more rights and it be recognized as work — I think is a huge positive."
The decision, advocates say, could create a new avenue for sex workers to protect their rights.
"There were lots of people — friends, people I would talk to, other clients I would meet — so many people told me, 'you don't know what you're talking about,' or 'you're crazy to think that this could possibly happen,'" Brogan said. "I don't think the gravity of it all has hit me yet."
Brogan met the client in question, Bradley Samuelson, through a website called LeoList that's used by sex workers and their clients. After some...
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