A BC ruling exposes what happens when there is no oversight over a vulnerable employer
A British Columbia personal assistant who received over $5.1 million from her cognitively impaired employer must return the funds and properties. On March 30, 2026, Justice Hamilton of the BC Supreme Court ruled the transfers cannot be retained, that Karen Vinci was fired for cause, and that she is entitled to modest damages for sexual assault and battery against her employer, Douglas Beckman.
Vinci was hired in late 2017 by Beckman's numbered company, 330542 BC Ltd., as his personal assistant at $5,000 per month. Her duties were never formally defined; the court noted they "included running errands, ordering food, picking up drycleaning and providing companionship." There was no formal job description.
Beckman is a successful businessman living with Huntington's disease, a progressive neurological condition affecting his physical and cognitive functioning, including decision-making and impulse control. By October 2017, his CFO Evelyn Towgood, close friend Grant Steven, his lawyer and his accountant had grown concerned about his daily functioning.
Between April 2020 and April 2022, Beckman transferred approximately $5.1 million to Vinci and her adult children, funding real estate purchases registered in their names. Vinci also charged at least $362,877.70 to Beckman's credit cards for clothing, nail and skin care, gym memberships, pet care and supplies, and photography services, bringing...
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