B.C. judge certifies class-action lawsuit alleging prison guard sexually assaulted inmates
A B.C. judge certified a class-action lawsuit against the province and a former prison guard accused of sexually assaulting over 200 inmates.Summary
A B.C. Supreme Court judge has certified a class-action lawsuit alleging that former prison guard Roderic MacDougall sexually assaulted over 200 inmates between 1976 and 1996 while working at four B.C. prisons, primarily Oakalla Prison. The lawsuit claims the province was aware of credible evidence of MacDougall’s misconduct but failed to protect inmates for over two decades. Plaintiffs’ lawyer Saro Turner stated that over 500 former inmates have contacted the firm, with approximately 200 meeting the criteria to join the suit.
The suit details allegations of various forms of sexual assault, including unwanted touching and forced sexual acts. MacDougall was criminally charged in 1998 and convicted in 2022 of sexual assault, indecent assault, and extortion related to separate incidents involving teenage inmates.
The lawsuit argues the province is vicariously liable for the assaults and negligent in its duty to protect inmates. A mediation hearing is scheduled for the fall, and none of the allegations have been proven in court.
(Source：The Province)