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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
B.C. man who got $8M says he'll be penniless if made to pay sex assault damages
VANCOUVER — A British Columbia man who was awarded $8 million after being wrongfully convicted of sexual assault and spending 27 years in prison says he'll be left "homeless and penniless" if forced to pay civil damages to victims who won a lawsuit against him. The B.C. Court of Appeal ruled this week that five women who were awarded $375,000 each in January against Ivan Henry can't go after his home or vehicles pending his appeal, but ordered him to pay $232,000 into a trust account. "The value of the (January) judgment exceeds my net worth," Henry said in an affidavit. "I would be homeless and have no means to support myself." Henry was convicted of 10 counts of sexual assault in 1983, but was released after an appeal determined he was wrongfully convicted and he was acquitted in 2010. The appeal ruling says Henry was awarded more than $8 million in 2018 for breaches of his Charter rights after suing the province and others for wrongful conviction, but five women sued him in 2017, alleging he sexually assaulted them in their Vancouver homes in the early 1980s. The B.C. Supreme Court sided with the women in the civil case but the appeal ruling says Henry has not taken any steps to pay them and both he and the plaintiffs have filed appeals. The five women are appealing the court's refusal to award punitive damages in the case of $1 million each. This week's ruling says Henry applied to "stay execution" of the damages award and he told the court he spent millions defending the lawsuit, gave away more than $2 million, and now lives in a mortgage-free home on a monthly stipend from old-age security and the Canada Pension Plan. Henry filed an affidavit in the Court of Appeal this month that outlines his current living situation, his finances and the history of the case. It says he has had "significant health issues" since his release from prison, undergoing quintuple bypass heart surgery in 2016. Henry, now 78, said he lives alone at his home in Hope, B.C., with an assessed value of $650,000, and he owns two vehicles worth a combined $40,000. Henry said his Charter damages were paid out in instalments. He said he "gifted" more than $2 million to family members and a former partner, and also made donations. "These gifts were unconditional gifts with no expectation of repayment," said Henry, who estimated his annual living expenses at around $40,000. He said the rest of the money went toward living expense and legal expenses fighting the civil lawsuit. Henry said he continues to have "anxiety and other long-term effects" from his time behind bars, and asked the court to allow him to remain in his home until the appeal is decided. "My home provides me with a consistent and secure environment that supports my ability to manage these challenges. It is a place where I feel safe and can maintain a routine." The Court of Appeal found discrepancies in Henry's claims, finding his evidence leaves $1.8 million "unaccounted for," while he couldn't explain where "large sums" flowing in and out of his account went between 2018 and 2023. The ruling says Henry's affidavit is "not consistent" with what he said in an examination by the plaintiffs a week before he filed the document. He had said on May 5 that he gave away an estimated $3 million by 2017. He also said he had about $2 million and a house in 2024, but lost millions defending the civil action. Justice Nitya Iyer found that it is possible Henry doesn't have the money to pay the award and may lose his home, but "inconsistencies" in his affidavit and the examination "raise real questions about whether Mr. Henry has access to more funds than he claims." The ruling says the appeal will likely be heard this fall, with a decision in the spring of 2026. Lawyers for Henry and the complainants did not immediately respond to a requests for comment. The women who sued Henry described sexual assaults in their ground-floor or basement suites between May 1981 and June 1982. The judge in January's civil ruling found Henry liable, saying "it is more likely than not that he was their attacker and performed the sexual assaults … on a balance of probabilities." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025. Darryl Greer, The Canadian Press
Vancouver Sun
5 days ago
- Vancouver Sun
Wrongfully convicted Ivan Henry, who got $8M says he'll be penniless if made to pay sex assault damages
A B.C. man who was awarded $8 million after being wrongfully convicted of sexual assault and spending 27 years in prison says he'll be left 'homeless and penniless' if forced to pay civil damages to women who won a lawsuit against him. The B.C. Court of Appeal ruled this week that five victims who were awarded $375,000 each in January against Ivan Henry can't go after his home or vehicle pending his appeal, but ordered him to pay $232,000 into a trust account. The ruling says Henry received a multimillion-dollar payout in 2018 for breaches of his Charter rights after suing the province and others for wrongful conviction, but five complainants sued him in 2017 for sexual assaults they say he committed. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The B.C. Supreme Court sided with the women but the ruling says Henry has not taken any steps to pay them and both he and the plaintiffs have filed appeals. The ruling says Henry applied to 'stay execution' of the damages award and told the court he spent millions defending the lawsuit, gave away more than $2 million, and now lives in a mortgage-free home on a monthly stipend from old-age security and the Canada Pension Plan. The Court of Appeal found discrepancies in Henry's claims, finding his evidence leaves $1.8 million 'unaccounted for,' while he couldn't explain where 'large sums' flowing in and out of his account went between 2018 and 2023.
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
B.C. man who got $8M says he'll be penniless if made to pay sex assault damages
VANCOUVER – A B.C. man who was awarded $8 million after being wrongfully convicted of sexual assault and spending 27 years in prison says he'll be left 'homeless and penniless' if forced to pay civil damages to victims who won a lawsuit against him. The B.C. Court of Appeal ruled this week that five victims who were awarded $375,000 each in January against Ivan Henry can't go after his home or vehicle pending his appeal, but ordered him to pay $232,000 into a trust account. The ruling says Henry received a multimillion-dollar payout in 2018 for breaches of his Charter rights after suing the province and others for wrongful conviction, but five complainants sued him in 2017 for sexual assaults they say he committed. The B.C. Supreme Court sided with the women but the ruling says Henry has not taken any steps to pay them and both he and the plaintiffs have filed appeals. The ruling says Henry applied to 'stay execution' of the damages award and told the court he spent millions defending the lawsuit, gave away more than $2 million, and now lives in a mortgage-free home on a monthly stipend from old-age security and the Canada Pension Plan. The Court of Appeal found discrepancies in Henry's claims, finding his evidence leaves $1.8 million 'unaccounted for,' while he couldn't explain where 'large sums' flowing in and out of his account went between 2018 and 2023. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025.
Global News
27-05-2025
- Business
- Global News
City of Vancouver backs down on Kitsilano supportive housing project
The City of Vancouver has backed down in its legal fight over a controversial proposed supportive housing building in Kitsilano. City council approved the rezoning application for the 13-storey project at Arbutus Street and West 8th Avenue in 2022. Shortly after, the Kitsilano Coalition launched a court challenge seeking a judicial review of the council's decision. The City of Vancouver has consented to the judicial review, meaning the rezoning has been quashed. The Kitsilano Coalition also says it has been in discussions with the city and the mayor's office who have shown interest in creating a different type of project. 'It is what it is,' Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'I think the bigger question is we have to rethink these projects and go back to the drawing board. We have to make sure that the projects that are presented work in the context of setting everyone up for success.' Story continues below advertisement 1:53 Eby weighs in on Kitsilano supportive housing fight In January, B.C. Premier David Eby said he was frustrated about the project after the B.C. Court of Appeal ruled in December that a law passed by the provincial government to stave off opposition to the project was unconstitutional. The B.C. government adopted the law in 2023 at the City of Vancouver's request to push through the development, which would have been 12 storeys tall on Arbutus Street with units open to low-income residents and those needing support services. 'This is frustrating,' Eby said in January. 'We're trying to build housing for people. Everybody in British Columbia knows there's a housing crisis. They see the people in the streets. They see that providing affordable housing with supports for people as part of the response to this.'
Epoch Times
08-05-2025
- Health
- Epoch Times
BC Court of Appeal Dismisses Health-Care Workers' COVID Vaccine Mandate Challenge
The B.C. Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal of the province's COVID vaccine mandate for health-care workers. In a May 6 hearing, the court dismissed the appeal on the grounds it was moot, or no longer relevant. Allison Pejovic, a constitutional lawyer representing the health-care workers, said she was disappointed by the decision, telling The Epoch Times the legal team had expected to argue the case over a number of days. Pejovic said several Canadian courts have dismissed challenges of pandemic orders on the basis of mootness while, she argued, 'the violation of Charter rights and freedoms has been unprecedented during COVID.' She said the case was an 'ideal opportunity' for an appellate court to consider 'whether the right of liberty protects a fundamental personal medical decision' of taking a COVID-19 vaccine under threat of termination of employment. The case was brought by 11 health-care workers and dismissed by the B.C. Supreme Court in 2024, ruling that the mandates did not infringe on workers' rights or charter freedoms. Related Stories 7/26/2024 5/15/2024 The court said the health orders 'were reasonable in light of the information available' to the provincial health officer at the time. The appeal court dismissed the case after the Crown brought a motion arguing mootness, Pejovic said. She said the case would have looked at evidence that 'nearly 100 percent of British Columbians were immune to COVID' during the time COVID-19 mandates continued to be enforced for health-care workers. Pejovic argued the case would have been an opportunity for the court to decide whether it's lawful under the Charter to restrict rights and freedoms of people who didn't take the COVID vaccine 'when they have proven that they have natural immunity to COVID.' B.C. Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry issued an The mandate was one of several that resulted in about 1,800 health-care workers losing their jobs, according to the When the B.C. Supreme Court heard the lawsuit in November 2023, the province still had a vaccine mandate. The health workers argued that COVID-19 no longer presented 'an immediate or significant threat to public health.' They also said Henry's order was 'ineffective' and 'unreasonable' on the grounds that, because of preventative measures already in place, unvaccinated health-care professionals did not pose a greater risk of passing on the virus to patients. The Epoch Times contacted Henry's office but did not hear back by publication time. In her 2023 vaccine order, Henry said she was concerned that any 'slippage in the level of vaccination' among health-care workers could result in 'significant illness' among them, undermining the health-care system's capacity. Henry said it was 'essential' to maintain high vaccination levels among hospital and community care workers as the 'best means available by which to mitigate the risk to the health of patients, residents, clients and workers and to ensure the preparedness and resiliency of the health-care system,' both at the time and in the event of a resurgence of COVID-19.
