Lawyers are calling on B.C. to reform its wrongful death laws in the wake of a new $50,000 fund established for each child of missing and murdered women, including Robert Pickton’s victims.
While several family members decried the Tuesday announcement as “pennies,” undervaluing their lost loved ones, the figure is the maximum available under the current Family Compensation Act.
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As the result of an archaic law imported from Britain, [Catherine] Adamson and other B.C. families are left with little legal recourse in the face of a loved one’s wrongful death.
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Imagine a child being told their murdered mom was worth only $50,000.
News that some of the families of serial killer Robert Pickton’s victims had settled their lawsuit with Victoria focuses attention once again on B.C.’s inadequate wrongful death law.
The province’s archaic legislation governing the compensation for the loss of loved ones due to other people’s wrongful conduct perpetuates a long-standing injustice.
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Investigations by the coroner’s office and the children’s commission (the latter of which was abolished in 2002 by the B.C. Liberals) found Heidi died of medical errors.
But when Adamson asked her lawyer about the next steps after Heidi’s death, she was told there were none..
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British Columbia needs to overhaul laws governing awards in medical malpractice cases, the Wrongful Death Law Reform Group urged Sunday.
At present, they say, the laws mean no damages can be awarded in wrongful death cases unless the victim was a wage earner or guardian of dependents.
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