Stanley Cup riot lawsuit filed by B.C. auto insurer

ICBC has launched a civil lawsuit against 46 people charged or convicted in the Stanley Cup riot, seeking damages for 77 vehicles damaged or destroyed.

Spokesman Adam Grossman said the insurance company paid out over half a million dollars in claims to clients whose vehicles were damaged or destroyed.

"We had vehicles that were overturned, windows that were smashed, damage as a result of being scratched, jumped on, hit with objects ... and a good proportion of those 77 vehicles had to be written off as well," said Grossman.

The provincially owned insurance company filed the notice of civil claim in B.C. Supreme Court on Friday, two years after the riot broke out in downtown Vancouver following the seventh game of the Stanley Cup final.

ICBC worked with Vancouver police in their investigation and the claim is only being filed now because of the complicated nature of the investigation, Grossman said.

"The investigation into the events that took place during the riot was extremely complex and we needed to take as much time to assess the situation," he said.

• Read more about the prosecution of rioters

In the civil claim, ICBC is seeking general damages, special damages, aggravated damages, punitive damages, interest and costs. ICBC estimates the investigation has cost them more than $526,000.

"ICBC has a responsibility to protect our customers premium dollars and is taking legal action to recover the costs of these acts of vandalism to ensure they are not passed on to our customers," said a statement released by the corporation.

The lawsuit alsonamed Jane Doe and John Doe as defendantsfor any individuals that have either charges pending or are named at a later time, said the statement.

Police costs hit $2M

Vancouver police said on Friday that thus far the two-year-long investigation into the riot has cost the department $2 million for wages, analysts and forensic lab costs.

• Read about the new technology used in the police investigation

In addition, 80 of those charged or convicted are being monitored by Vancouver police to make sure they dont breach their bail conditions.

"It is disappointing to see that some alleged and convicted rioters have made legally binding promises in exchange for lighter sentences and they have chosen to ignore those promises by breaching their release conditions," said Sgt Randy Fincham, a spokesman for the Vancouver Police Department, on Friday morning.

• Read more about alleged rioters breaching conditions

In total, police have recommended 1,086 charges against 325 suspects, with charge recommendations against 25 more suspects expected to be made shortly.

Six full-time Crown prosecutors assisted by three staff administrators have approved 701 charges against 229 of those suspects, at a cost of $3 million.

More than 130 people have entered guilty pleas, and at least 66 people have been sentenced.

An additional $53,000 has been spent on legal services.