Liptrot v. Vancouver College Limited
Vancouver College Limited
Law Firm / Organization
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)
St. Thomas More Collegiate Ltd.
Law Firm / Organization
Whitelaw Twining (WT BCA LLP)
Law Firm / Organization
Clark Wilson LLP
Lawyer(s)

Andrea Raso

Edward English
Law Firm / Organization
Self Represented
Joseph Burke
Law Firm / Organization
Unrepresented
Douglas Kenny
Law Firm / Organization
Unrepresented
Gerard Gabriel McHugh
Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of St. John’s
Law Firm / Organization
Stoel Rives LLP
Lawyer(s)

James M. Shore

Law Firm / Organization
Dolden Wallace Folick LLP
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Vancouver
Law Firm / Organization
Stoel Rives LLP
Lawyer(s)

James M. Shore

Law Firm / Organization
Dolden Wallace Folick LLP
Catholic Independent Schools of Vancouver Archdiocese
Law Firm / Organization
Stoel Rives LLP
Lawyer(s)

James M. Shore

Law Firm / Organization
Dolden Wallace Folick LLP
John Drescher
Law Firm / Organization
Preszler Injury Lawyers BC

Background: Darren Liptrot initiated a class action for damages on behalf of students who attended Vancouver College and St. Thomas More Collegiate from 1976 to 2013, alleging physical or sexual abuse by members of the Christian Brothers of Ireland in Canada Ltd.

Legal Issues: Whether the court should certify a class action lawsuit brought by Darren Liptrot. He sought to represent a class of students alleging they had been physically or sexually abused by members of the Christian Brothers of Ireland in Canada Ltd. at Vancouver College and St. Thomas More Collegiate between 1976 and 2013. The defendants contested the certification, arguing that the proposed common issues were too broadly framed and would necessitate individual trials rather than addressing issues on a class-wide basis. The court had to decide if the class action was the appropriate method to handle the claims.

Held: The court ruled in favor of certifying the class action lawsuit, albeit with narrower parameters than those initially sought by the plaintiff, Darren Liptrot, particularly regarding St. Thomas More Collegiate. The court determined that a class action was a preferable method for resolving the claims, providing a fair and efficient way to manage the allegations of abuse and enhancing access to justice for the class members. This decision acknowledged the complexity and sensitivity of the allegations, opting for a collective rather than individual trial approach.

Costs/Damages Awarded: The document does not specify the total costs or award amounts in favor of the successful party.

Supreme Court of British Columbia
S211242
Class actions
Plaintiff