A Step Forward: Update in the BC Inmate Sexual Assault Class Action for Survivors of Abuse By Former BC Corrections Officer Roderic Macdougall

By Slater Vecchio  |

Slater Vecchio LLP has filed a class action lawsuit against the Province of British Columbia and former corrections officer Roderic David MacDougall for alleged sexual assaults committed against those incarcerated at multiple BC correctional facilities between 1976 and 1997. The class action aims to represent all individuals who were sexually abused by MacDougall while at Oakalla Prison, Fraser Regional Correctional Centre, Surrey Justice Centre Probation Office and Alouette River Correctional Centre. The lawsuit alleges that the Province is also responsible for the assaults committed by MacDougall during his employment.

March 2 and 3, 2026 mark an important step forward with the certification hearing scheduled before Justice Masuhara.

If you have experienced abuse — whether physical, emotional, sexual, or financial — from a current or former intimate partner, this decision may open new avenues for civil compensation.

We understand how difficult it is to revisit these experiences. Our team works with survivors on a confidential, trauma-informed basis. We discuss your options at your pace, in a safe environment, and on a contingency-fee basis, which means you don’t pay for our services until your claim concludes.

There are also options to protect your identity throughout the legal process, including publication bans and the use of pseudonyms where appropriate.

If you would like to discuss whether the new tort of intimate partner violence may apply to your situation — or any other potential civil claim relating to abuse you have experienced — we are here when you are ready.

Get Help Now or call us at 1-866-649-2623 for a confidential, no-obligation consultation.

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Slater Vecchio
Slater Vecchio LLP is a boutique law firm with offices in British Columbia and Quebec. Over the past 25 years, Slater Vecchio has represented thousands of clients and has emerged as a prominent leader in personal injury and class action litigation.