Overview

• The British Columbia Supreme Court ruled the 2020 lawsuit can proceed as a class action against the federal government.
• Inmates allege pandemic measures confined them to cells for up to 20 hours daily with minimal human interaction.
• Justice Michael Tammen found class proceedings are often the only realistic avenue for prisoners lacking resources to challenge prison conditions.
• The Attorney General argued Correctional Service of Canada’s response was medically necessary, but the court deferred those issues to trial.
• Lawyer Patrick Dudding will now reach out to current and former inmates—potentially numbering in the thousands—to join the class.