Judge awards damages of $116K to insurance producer with PTSD after being harassed
The British Columbia Supreme Court ruled that an insurance brokerage company wrongfully terminated an insurance producer who developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder after a representative of one of her clients stalked and harassed her for years.
In 2014, the plaintiff in Hedrick v Johnston Meier Insurance Agencies Ltd., 2026 BCSC 1250, began working as an insurance producer at the defendant insurance brokerage.
Shortly after the stalking began, the employee informed her manager about the situation, which they addressed through office safeguards. However, by summer 2021, the stalking had become more frequent and intense.
The employee suggested potential additional changes to her work routine. According to her, her manager failed to help despite initially saying he would think of a plan. The employee’s mental health worsened as the stalking continued.
On Sept. 9, 2021, the employee asked whether she could temporarily work remotely from her rental property. According to her, her manager refused and threatened to take away her assistant if she worked remotely.
On pay day a week later, the employee noticed a substantial pay reduction.
On Oct. 4, 2021, the employee informed the manager that she needed a week of vacation time due to her worsening mental health. The manager told the employee to contact human resources to go on leave. When the employee specified...
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