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Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Insurer Seeks Damages for Hockey Riot

VANCOUVER, B.C. (CN) - British Columbia's publicly owned auto insurer sued dozens of people who allegedly trashed 120 cars during the 2011 Stanley Cup riot in downtown Vancouver.

The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia claims in B.C. Supreme Court that it's paid more than $500,000 in claims after rioters damaged more than 120 vehicles. On the night of game seven of the Stanley Cup final in June 2011, tens of thousands of revelers gathered downtown to watch the game the city installed on giant screens around town.

The Vancouver Canucks lost to the Boston Bruins, and chaos ensued. It began with a car being overturned and set afire shortly before the game ended, according to the complaint.

Rioters damaged business and 122 vehicles, the insurer claims. It claims it's paid claims on 77 vehicles, including $61,000 to the owner of a 2006 Bentley Continental.

Forty-six people are named as defendants. Many already face criminal charges.

According to the B.C. government's criminal justice branch, 229 people have been criminally charged in connection with the riot; 149 of them have pleaded guilty and 102 have been sentenced.

The Criminal Branch said in a statement: "The Branch applies a two-part test to determine whether criminal charges can be approved and a prosecution initiated:

"there must be a substantial likelihood of conviction based on the evidence gathered by the investigating agency; and

"a prosecution must be required in the public interest."

The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia is represented by Michael J. Hewitt with Lawson Lundell.

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