HIV-positive man sues RCMP for negligence, defamation after sex charges stayed

An HIV-positive man from Abbotsford, B.C., is suing the RCMP for negligence and defamation after a dozen sex charges against him were stayed last year.

Brian Carlisle filed a lawsuit in B.C. Supreme Court in July against those who handled his case, including police and the attorney general.

Carlisle was accused of having unprotected sex without telling his partners that he was HIV positive. He was charged with 12 counts of aggravated assault.

Those charges were stayed in April 2018 after Carlisle's doctor and an HIV expert agreed that his viral load was undetectableand he couldn't transmit the virus through sexual contact.

• Doctors deem Brian Carlisle cannot transmit HIV though sexual contact.

A notice of civil claimalleges the RCMP defamed Carlisleand accuses the prosecution of being malicious.

The lawsuit claims that the media attention to his case led to difficulties finding work and a place to live because ofa Mission RCMPnews release that containedhis photo, HIV status, and his presence on social media and dating sites.

"The media statement released by the Mission RCMP constituted defamation," reads the court document. "The statement lowered his reputation in the eyes of a reasonable person."

Pain and suffering

Carlisle, who claims to be an expert in medical marijuana production, said in the lawsuit that he has been turned down for jobs and would be able to earn up to $140,000 annuallybased on his experience.

The lawsuit says he currently works for a human resources company that does not use his name when dealing with clients.

The document also says he hasconsidered changing his name and rarely speaks with his daughter anymore, who has had to change her job twice due to his ordeal.

Carlisle is suing for loss of income, and pain and suffering.

None of the claims have been proven in court.