Vancouver broadcaster Jody Vance files civil claim against harasser

Vancouver broadcaster Jody Vance is bringing a civil lawsuit against the man who spent years harassing her.

Vance’s harasser, Richard Sean Oliver already pled guilty to criminal harassment in court just weeks ago and was sentenced to 12 months probation but Vance and several of her supporters feel that Oliver’s sentence was too light.

The civil claim was filed in B.C.’s Supreme Court on Thursday.

Vance and social media expert Jesse Miller, one of her guests in an interview, claims Oliver “engaged in an ongoing and relentless campaign of harassment, infliction of mental suffering, invasion of privacy and defamation.”

The suit also states that Vance’s friends, colleagues, and broadcast guests were also threatened and harassed through emails and postings that were sent to humiliate Vance deliberately. These included fake emails that were demeaning and sexual in nature.

Hundreds of emails were alleged to have been sent to Vance and Miller from March 23, 2020, to Sept 22, 2021. But according to court documents, the campaign to harass Vance started years ago.

“Prior to the 2020-2021 Vance Abuse, the defendant engaged in a continuing and malicious campaign of harassment, infliction of mental suffering, invasion of privacy and defamation of the plaintiff which included all of the years 2015-2019…” the claim reads.

Related: Vancouver broadcaster Jody Vance’s harasser sentenced

The suit also details examples of the emails Vance received.

This includes an incident on Oct 21, 2020, while Vance was filling in for a colleague on CKNW and interviewing guest Jesse Miller about anti-science and anti-mask movements. Oliver is alleged to have sent a threatening and harassing email to Miller in an effort to upset both host and interviewee to disrupt the program.

“The 2020-2021 Vance Abuse included threats and intimidation, including but not limited to words such as ‘build a bunker’, ‘the hell you morons are going to pay when this is over is going to be biblical’, ‘we know who all of you are, you will be imprisoned soon’,” the claim reads.

Having a platform I am mindful of each and every share and step on this journey for change l. How #Online #harassment is handled in must modify. In the days and weeks to come @MediatedReality and I will share next steps. #accountability and #justice. @Dave_Eby @JustinTrudeau

— Jody Vance (@jodyvance) March 25, 2023

According to the suit, the abuse inflicted caused mental suffering and Vance feared for her and her family’s safety. It was also said to have caused Vance to decline paid public appearances and opportunities, causing financial losses and damage to her career.

Despite Vance’s explicit requests for Oliver to stop, the suit claims that Oliver continued to harass and even escalate the abuse, including mentioning Vance’s son.

Vance claims the harassment only stopped when Oliver was arrested in Sept. 2021. She is now suing Oliver for an unspecified amount of damages as well as special costs.

with files from Cole Schisler