Global Courant
The Hells Angels have lost in the BC Court of Appeal after trying to prevent the county from selling three clubhouses seized earlier this year.
It is the latest chapter in a long-running saga of Vancouver, Nanaimo and Kelowna clubhouses.
The court had ruled in February that the properties were likely to be used for criminal activity in the future, and in April the county replaced the locks there and completely seized the clubhouses.
As the lawyers representing the outlaw biker gang consider a challenge to Canada’s Supreme Court, they went to court to stop the province from selling the properties – which they are allowed to do under the civil forfeiture law.
However, the province’s highest appeals court judged against themwhich found there was little evidence that the Hells Angels would have suffered “irreparable damage” had the properties been sold.
“The applicants have not demonstrated that they will suffer irreparable damage if the residence is not granted,” reads a decision posted earlier this month by Justice Ronald Skolrood.
“In contrast, I accept that the director (of civil forfeiture) will be subject to ongoing costs and potential liabilities if forced to retain and retain the property pending the decision of the proceedings in the Supreme Court of Canada.”
VPD officers are pictured April 14 at a Hells Angels clubhouse at 3598 East Georgia St. in Vancouver. The county now holds title for this property, as well as two others in Nanaimo and Kelowna. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
The case was between the county’s director of civil forfeiture and Angel Acres Recreation and Festival Property Ltd.
CBC News has contacted the attorney general’s office and the applicants’ attorney for this story.
16 years of legal turmoil
The clubhouses in question are located at 805 Victoria Rd. in Nanaimo, 837 Ellis St. in Kelowna and 3598 East Georgia St. in Vancouver. The Province of British Columbia now owns all three properties.
The forfeiture office first moved to seize the Nanaimo clubhouse in 2007, followed by the Kelowna and Vancouver clubhouses in 2012, with the Crown alleging the properties were linked to racketeering, assault and even murder.
The Hells Angels went to court to stop the seizures, initially winning a Supreme Court ruling in 2020. However, that was reversed by the Court of Appeal in February this year.
The BC Assessment website shows a total combined value of just over $3 million for the properties.
They are described in the February ruling as fenced and locked, with metal outward opening doors to prevent break-ins, extensive security systems and other measures to “prevent police covert surveillance of Hells Angels activities.
The BC Court of Appeal is the highest appeals court in the province, meaning the Hells Angels must turn to the Supreme Court of Canada if they want to overturn the attachment.
In the court’s decision, Skolrood said the club’s lawyers have already filed their application with Canada’s highest court and a decision will be made in the fall on whether to hold a hearing.
