A Vancouver-based coffee chain has launched a lawsuit against dozens of unnamed rioters after three of its locations were hit by vandals following the Stanley Cup final earlier this month.
Blenz Coffee Ltd. filed the suit at the B.C. Supreme Court against 150 people named as either John or Jane Doe. The claim states that real names will be inserted in the suit as more rioters are identified.
Numerous businesses in the city centre were hit by rioters in the aftermath of the Vancouver Canucks' loss in the Stanley Cup. The riot caused millions of dollars in damages to many businesses.
Three Blenz locations were hit during the riots, with the culprits smashing windows, store signs, equipment and furniture, according to the suit. Cash, merchandise and other property also went missing, the claim alleges.
Blenz staff member Minnie Dunn said the ordeal was a frightening episode that left her shaken. Surveying the damage recently, she was shocked by the destruction.
"The whole place is demolished. The whole place is gone. There's nothing left," she said Friday as she walked through one of the trashed shops.
The suit, which was filed by company president George Moen on Thursday, is seeking damages, including legal costs and punitive costs.
Speaking with CTV British Columbia Friday, Moen said that two Blenz staff members, along with a customer, had to remain in a backroom for two hours as rioters ran wild and trashed the cafe.
"Luckily, none of our customers, staff or franchisees were physically harmed, but the psychological trauma to them has been devastating," said Moen.
One of the Blenz locations damaged during the carnage remains closed, while two others have reopened.
While many websites and Facebook users have been posting photos of the riot in order to identify culprits, proving guilt in a court of law can be difficult, said lawyer Eleni Kassaris.
Fighting a civil court case can also be a long and expensive challenge, Kassaris added.
Video images captured at the scene appear to show female rioters hoisting Blenz flavour bottles, while another video depicts a different woman tossing around pastries on the street.
But that type of evidence isn't always enough to secure a legal victory, Kassaris said.
"The proof issues remain difficult, because as you can imagine, if you've had dozens of people trashing one store, the next level of inquiry is: who's to blame for what?"
So far, at least 100 people have been arrested in connection with the June 15 riot, which erupted after the Boston Bruins won the series' deciding game in Vancouver.
With files from The Canadian Press and CTV Vancouver Bureau Chief Sarah Galashan
