On October 21, 2024 our firm filed a class action lawsuit against the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia. The lawsuit alleges past and ongoing misuse of the CL237A – Authorization to Provide Medical Information to obtain or attempt to obtain personal and private medical information of persons submitting claims for accident benefits when it is not necessary. The plaintiff brought this lawsuit on behalf of all persons who submitted claims for accident benefits to ICBC for injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents after May 1, 2021 and who either had private medical records obtained by ICBC, or had their access to accident benefits threatened for declining to sign a CL237A – Authorization to Provide Medical Information to ICBC.

The proposed representative plaintiff was injured in a motor vehicle in October of 2023 and made a claim to ICBC for accident benefits. ICBC told her that she had to sign a CL237A authorization, which they used to obtain clinical records containing her medical history from prior and subsequent to the date of the motor vehicle accident. She was not advised of the nature or extent of records ICBC intended to obtain or provided the opportunity to ensure that only relevant information would be shared. As a result, ICBC had obtained irrelevant, personal, and private medical information about the plaintiff viewable by any non-medical professional assisting with her claim. She revoked the authorization after discovering the unfettered access it provided to ICBC with respect to her medical history. Without informing the plaintiff of their intention to do so, ICBC attempted to use the revoked CL237A authorization to obtain further clinical records.  After confirming that they did not have a valid authorization, ICBC threatened to suspend or delay her access to accident benefits if she did not authorize ICBC to access her medical history.

The “No-Fault” Insurance scheme legislated by the Province of British Columbia, formally known as “Enhanced Care”, came into effect in May 1, 2021. The scheme substantially barred injured victims from bringing legal action for their injuries and discouraged them from obtaining legal advice concerning their rights and obligations under the new legislation. As the sole provider of the basic auto insurance coverage in British Columbia, ICBC has experienced a significant increase in their power over injured claimants. Although the government legislated a duty on ICBC to inform and educate injured claimants of their rights and obligations, the Notice of Civil Claim alleges that ICBC frequently and routinely fails to fulfill this duty, overstates their statutory authority for access to medical records, and violates the privacy of injured claimants.

If you’ve been impacted by these practices you can share your experience with us here.

Its election season. And promises are being made.

The BC NDP have stripped crash victims of their rights.  There are many horror stories of people maimed, disabled and even killed by negligent drivers being stripped of the right to sue and lacking the ability to seek proper compensation for their financial and other losses following such tragedy.

The BC Conservative Party has gone on record saying they will end ICBC’s monopoly and restore rights for victims with life altering injuries.

Their full position reads as follows.

I have reached out to the Conservative party via X requesting clarity on what they mean by their promise to

“make sure anyone with life altering injuries has the right to representation and the ability to fight for the support they need”.

I will update this post should they reply.

Reporter Rob Shaw states notes as follows:

“No fault insurance will remain in place, along with caps on minor soft tissue injuries, but those with “life altering injuries” will be exempted and allowed to sue for compensation, according to Conservative policy“

https://x.com/RobShaw_BC/status/184162803274793372020

Pointed reasons for judgment released this week by the BC Supreme Court showed just how poorly ICBC fulfilled their obligations to an individual they insured despite making promises to the court that they will be fair.  Madam Justice Murray noted she is “unable to presume that ICBC will conduct itself honourably moving forward“.

Here is the context. In the recent case (Taylor v. Peters) the Plaintiff suffered serious injuries in a 2017 crash.  She was not at fault.  Back then BC crash victims still enjoyed the right to sue for proper compensation.  At trial the plaintiff was awarded $407,000 in total damages.  ICBC, the insurer for the at fault driver, could deduct from the award any money the Plaintiff could receive from them directly as a Part 7 benefit.  ICBC asked the court to reduce the award by over $141,000 arguing they “will irrevocably, unequivocally, and unconditionally agree to pay the plaintiff, for the items awarded by the court in the Cost of Future Care section in the Reasons for Judgment“.  They filed an affidavit with the court making this promise.

Despite this promise ICBC time and again failed to pay the Plaintiff benefits the court found were needed as future care costs.  ICBC’s own lawyer admitted to the court “that ICBC has failed to handle Ms. Taylor’s claim appropriately but submits that starting now they will do so“.  The court had no time for this promise.  Instead the court found that ICBC’s past actions were the best predictions of their future behavior and refused to give the Defendant/ICBC the substantial deduction from the award.  In doing so Madam Justice Murray provided the following pointed comments:

This week CBC covered a sad story of a young PhD student studying at UBC who suffered a likely permanent brain injury from what was advertised as a ‘light’ and ‘controlled’ contact kickboxing bout which was hosted at Simon Fraser University.

Zhenhuan Lei is likely in a permanent vegetative state.  His mom, Ying Li, has been appointed his committee and commenced litigation.

Our firm is representing the family in this litigation and I will not comment publicly on the case.

That said I am happy the case has received media attention as Zhenhuan Lei’s medical needs are profound.

We have started a GoFundMe which already has been integral in providing assistance to the family and helped them cover part of the medical flight to bring Zhenhuan Lei back to China.  That flight alone cost $100,000 of which Ying Li had to pay $30,000.

If you can donate to the fundraiser your assistance is greatly appreciated.  If you can take a moment to share it that too is appreciated.

The GoFundMe can be found here.

_________________________________________

Update –

Ying Li has released the below public statement. I reproduce it here in full so you can hear from her directly and know this is who you have helped with your contributions. (please note this statement is from a week ago and he has since been successfully flown back to China).

Thank you everyone for all of your support. It is very much appreciated.
_____________________________

My son has been studying and living in Canada for five years. He is a cheerful, handsome, and kind young man who loves life. He diligently studies and works, often conducting experiments until late at night. He once told me that life only affords a few chances.

Suddenly, one morning, a news struck my family. In China, I received a call from a Canadian hospital informing me that my son was in a severe coma and needed surgery to avoid losing his life. Even with the surgery, there was no guarantee of saving him. They sought my decision on whether to proceed with the operation. Tearfully, I consented, desperately hoping for his survival. The surgery was successful, thanks to the exceptional skills of Canadian doctors, the meticulous care of the nurses, and his resilient vitality. He faced numerous dangers, overcame many obstacles, and reached his current state.

Ten days after the incident, with the assistance of the Chinese embassy and the Canadian immigration office, I arrived in Canada. It has been four months, and I feel as if I have experienced a death and am physically and mentally exhausted. I can’t comprehend how a well-behaved child, who participated in an entertainment competition, had his life changed so drastically. A promising life of a future scientist, an ambitious young man, has now turned into lying in a hospital bed every day and staring at the ceiling. I don’t know what he’s thinking, whether he harbors resentment, regrets, or frustration about participating in that life-altering competition.

After calming down, I must face all the problems that arose from this incident. My son grew up in a single-parent household, and he is my only child. All my efforts have been devoted to him, and raising him to this point has not been easy. Just as he was about to complete his Ph.D., hopes were shattered. Now, I have to embark on another journey, caring for him in the latter part of his life. Medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, family doctor fees, nursing expenses, transportation back to China, and more are looming in front of me. However, I don’t know how long I can accompany him. What will happen to him in the future, and who will take care of him? Unfortunately, amidst this misfortune, I am fortunate to have encountered a good lawyer named Erik Magraken, who has sincerely and significantly assisted me. I am deeply thankful for his help and the generous contributions from many kind-hearted people. My heart is full of gratitude.

Now, my concern is the treatment cost if he returns to China. Hiring someone costs 300 yuan per day, totaling 9,000 yuan per month. I don’t have that much money, so I can only take care of him myself. My own health is not good, and I don’t know how long I can care for him. I worry about what will happen if I’m not around, who will take care of him, and I am filled with daily anxiety and despair.

At this point, I just want to return to China as soon as possible for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Perhaps it can help him regain some abilities. That is the most important thing, even if it’s just a slight improvement, such as being able to eat on his own. Watching him every day, I feel very sad. I am also reaching my limit. I want to go to the emergency room, but I am reluctant to spend money. I need to save money for his plane ticket to return to China for treatment, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, skull repair surgery, stem cells, and more. Any treatment that might help him, such as acupuncture, massage, and traditional Chinese medicine, has shown benefits for him. So now, not only do I worry about his illness, but I also worry about money. Even if the plane fare is resolved, I still have to worry about the cost of treatment in China. It’s mentally and physically exhausting.

MacIsaac & Company is looking for an associate lawyer to join our established litigation practice in Victoria, BC.  Our Victoria office is located on the waterfront at Fisherman’s Wharf in historic James Bay, close to downtown.  We offer a casual, team-oriented and collaborative working environment.

The practice is hands-on by nature and requires some time in the office.  A hybrid work model could be considered.

Three or more years of qualified litigation experience in BC is essential.  Our firm has a large existing caseload and a strong network with lawyers throughout BC and Alberta.  The position involves overseeing direct conduct of a mature caseload of active litigation files, and a willingness to further expand the practice is always encouraged and supported by the firm.

While we are seeking to fill a full-time permanent position, practitioners who are interested in working as an associate counsel on an annual contract basis are invited to apply.

              Compensation:

$100,000 – $175,000 yearly, depending on experience

Apply confidentially using the online form at the bottom of the page here, or send your resume in confidence to: Victoria@macisaacandcompany.com