Oct 2021 Woman sues Victoria Real Estate agents and company over alleged sexual assault
Louise Dickson Times Colonist October 3, 2021
Woman sues Victoria real estate agents and company over alleged sexual assault | Times Colonist
A woman who made detailed allegations of sexual assault on the Vancouver Island Instagram account @survivorstoriesproject is suing two real estate agents and the real estate company they worked for.
The plaintiff, identified as J.K., launched her civil suit Wednesday in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver. She is suing Bowman Rutledge, Andy Rogers and Island Group Services Inc., doing business as Engel & Volkers Vancouver Island, for injuries, loss and damage allegedly suffered as a result of a sexual assault in August 2018.
When the allegations of sexual assault against Rutledge and Rogers surfaced in 2021, they were working for a different brokerage, The Agency, a luxury real estate and lifestyle company. Their employment was immediately terminated by The Agency. The Real Estate Council of B.C. has revoked their licenses.
The plaintiff, identified as J.K., launched her civil suit Wednesday in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver. She is suing Bowman Rutledge, Andy Rogers and Island Group Services Inc., doing business as Engel & Volkers Vancouver Island, for injuries, loss and damage allegedly suffered as a result of a sexual assault in August 2018.On social media, both men have firmly denied the allegations. As yet, no statement of defence has been filed.
“We have just become aware that our firm has been named in a civil lawsuit related to disturbing allegations involving two former independent contractors. We will act on the advice of legal counsel and address these concerns through the court system once we receive more information,” Scott Piercy, owner of Engel & Volkers Vancouver Island said in a statement Saturday.
When the allegations of sexual assault against Rutledge and Rogers surfaced in 2021, they were working for a different brokerage, The Agency, a luxury real estate and lifestyle company. Their employment was immediately terminated by The Agency. The Real Estate Council of B.C. has revoked their licenses.
“We remain a dedicated, professional and ethical team of licensed advisors and these allegations do not represent who we are. Any form of sexual misconduct is wholly unacceptable and will not be tolerated within our industry or our community.”
In her notice of civil claim, J.K. alleges that she was sexually assaulted by Rutledge and Rogers, who were her real estate agents, at the Humboldt Street office of Engel & Volkers Vancouver Island. J.K. alleges that in December 2017, she hired Rutledge and Rogers to sell her home. It sold in February 2018 and changed possession in May 2018.
In August, J.K. agreed to meet Rutledge at a local bar to celebrate. When she arrived, Rogers was also there. They asked her to come with them to the office before going to the bar for a drink so they could scan or print a document. J.K. alleges she was given a glass of wine with drugs in it. As soon as she drank it, she felt unwell and disoriented. Shortly after, she was sexually assaulted by both men, the claim alleges.
Engel & Volkers either knew or should have known that Rutledge and Rogers were at risk of sexually assaulting women and did not take any actions to monitor or supervise their behaviour or investigate their conduct, the claim alleges. The company continued to let them have access to female clients. “As a direct result of Engel’s and Island’s acts and omissions, the plaintiff was subject to the sexual assault by Rogers and Rutledge,” the claim alleges.
J.K. alleges that they used their power as her realtors to “lure” her to the office and abused their position of power, authority and trust to take advantage of her trust in them. J.K. alleges she was given a glass of wine with drugs in it. As soon as she drank it, she felt unwell and disoriented. Shortly after, she was sexually assaulted by both men, the claim alleges. The real estate agents ought to have known that their actions would traumatize a normal person and would damage her, J.K. alleges.
Engel & Volkers either knew or should have known that Rutledge and Rogers were at risk of sexually assaulting women and did not take any actions to monitor or supervise their behaviour or investigate their conduct, the claim alleges. The company continued to let them have access to female clients.
The real estate company benefited from Rutledge and Rogers’ social networking and dysfunctional behaviour because it increased their public presence and profile in the community and their ability to secure real estate listings, says the claim.J.K. also alleges that Engel & Volkers fostered an environment that encouraged reckless and harmful behaviour toward women.
The company encouraged intimate and social relationships between clients and agents. It allowed Rogers and Rutledge to entertain women clients at the office after hours. It allowed them to have sex with clients at the office and allowed them to use the office for social activities, even those involving illegal behaviour, the claim alleges.
The real estate company benefited from Rutledge and Rogers’ social networking and dysfunctional behaviour because it increased their public presence and profile in the community and their ability to secure real estate listings, says the claim.
J.K. also alleges that Engel & Volkers fostered an environment that encouraged reckless and harmful behaviour toward women. The company encouraged intimate and social relationships between clients and agents. It allowed Rogers and Rutledge to entertain women clients at the office after hours. It allowed them to have sex with clients at the office and allowed them to use the office for social activities, even those involving illegal behaviour, the claim alleges. The injuries continue to cause J.K. pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of physical, mental and emotional health and loss of earning capacity, it says.
The real estate agents ought to have known that their actions would traumatize a normal person and would damage her, J.K. alleges Engel & Volkers failed to properly vet and screen the two men, prior to hiring them. The company failed to address the drug and alcohol use and high-risk behaviour, the claim alleges. The defendants must respond to the allegations within 35 days.
UPDATE: October 8/2021
These civil actions appeared on Court Services Online (CSO) on September 29th/2021. However, the files are no longer online to be viewed as they have now been sealed pursuant to a court order. It is important to save court documents when they first appear.
| ROGERS, Andy J.K. v ISLAND GROUP SERVICES INC. | Supreme Supreme Civil (General) | Vancouver Law Courts | 218527 | 29Sep2021 | 29Sep2021 |
| Last Name, First Name Style of Cause | Classification of File | Court Location | File Number | Date File Opened | Date Last Updated | View |
| RUTLEDGE, Bowman | Supreme Supreme Civil (General) | Vancouver Law Courts | 218527 | 29Sep2021 | 29Sep2021 |
| ENGEL & VOLKERS VANCOUVER ISLAND J.K. v ISLAND GROUP SERVICES INC. | Supreme Supreme Civil (General) | Vancouver Law Courts | 218527 | 29Sep2021 | 29Sep2021 |
Go Public CBC News
Civil suit alleges 2 Victoria realtors drugged and sexually assaulted their client. More women turning to civil courts, social media instead of police, experts say.
Erica Johnson · CBC News · Posted: Oct 03, 2021 8:00 PM ET
This woman is suing the two Victoria realtors she hired to sell her house in 2018, alleging they drugged and sexually assaulted her in their real estate office. (Maggie MacPherson/CBC)
WARNING: This story contains disturbing details
It’s a secret she says she held close for almost three years — what happened the night she says she was sexually assaulted by two Victoria realtors she’d hired to sell her house. “I tried my very best to just kind of put everything away and move forward,” she told Go Public. The woman — who CBC News is not naming because she’s an alleged victim of sexual assault — is in her 30s.
Sitting in the Vancouver office of her lawyer, she says the assault took a toll on her mental health and she wants accountability — so she’s filing a civil claim to get it.
Civil suit alleges 2 Victoria realtors drugged and sexually assaulted their client | CBC News
In regards to this story let me say this.
Statistics show that 98% of the time rape victims are telling the truth. These Victoria predators come from an affluent circle. They use their connections and popularity to assault women – choosing their victims wisely – women they were quite certain would keep their mouths shut after the assault.
Andy Rogers and Bowman Rutledge are alleged tag-team drug rapists
They lured their victims to their Engle & Volker’s office, then drugged and assaulted them. After the assault they dared to threaten their victims – telling them that nobody would believe them so they better not talk.
Bowman Rutledge and Andy Rogers raped multiple women and other women are coming forward. These women are to be commended for having the courage to step up and tell their story. The victims of rape suffer long-term affects and some never fully recover from the trauma. It is shocking to hear that this woman went to the police and her claims of rape were ignored. Either the police need to be better equipped in how to handle victims of sexual assault, or is it possible that many of them are part of the rape culture that plagues our society?
There is systemic sexism from police, lawyers, the medical system and the justice system and this mindset/attitude must stop before we will ever see positive changes in the way sexual assault victims are treated.
The Vancouver Island Instagram account @survivorstoriesproject has been instrumental in helping to expose a multitude of Victoria predators – predators who thought they were untouchable. Thank you to this group for having the guts to take this project on. You are giving young woman the platform to tell their stories – a voice – and hopefully in time they learn to trust again.
Andy Rogers and Bowman Rutledge are not the only men in Victoria who have been raping women
And now the media is getting on board to expose the identify of these predators. Why is it that so many of these predators are realtors? Do these men feel a sense of entitlement? Do they do it for the power and control? Or are they sick twisted evil minded individuals? Not only have they betrayed their victims, they have betrayed their families, friends and business associates. Their actions have eroded public confidence in the real estate industry and now buyers and sellers will be very wary of realtors who they may have considered doing business with.
Andy Rogers, Bowman Rutledge, Kyle Kerr, Callaghan O’ConnoR, JASON CRAVEIRO
https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/victoria-real-estate-agents-fired-after-sexual-assault-allegations-1.5362931 (Andy Rogers & Bowman Rutledge)
Third real estate agent fired after allegations of sexual assault posted online | Times Colonist (Kyle Kerr)
Fourth real estate agent fired amid sexual assault allegations | Times Colonist (Callaghan O’Connor)
Real estate regulator will co-operate with police in wake of sexual assault allegations | Times Colonist (Callaghan O’Connor)
Saanich police apologize for inadequate handling of sexual assault survivor’s report – Victoria News (vicnews.com) (Jason Craveiro)
DID ANY OF THESE MEN STOP TO THINK ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR ACTIONS? Did they stop to think of the emotional harm they were inflicting upon these women. Sexual assault victims more often than not suffer from flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, PTSD, depression, feelings of hopelessness, and dissociation from reality.
RAPE CULTURE is an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture. It is perpetrated through the use of misogynistic language, the objectification of women’s bodies, and the glamorization of sexual violence, thereby creating a society that disregards women’s rights and safety. This needs to end.
“There is something awesome, mysterious, and divine in humanity that has called groups of people, throughout history, to risk everything to speak the truth . . . Let us not get lost in the culture of fear that is being thrust upon us. It is a time in which human consciousness is experiencing birth pains. Remember Teilhard de Chardin’s call to assist in this new emergence by passionately practicing love for life.” – Thomas Atum O’Kane
Email Address: murderondesousa@gmail.com