A Surrey man who was allegedly assaulted in a run-in with three off-duty police officers in Vancouver two years ago has now filed a civil suit asserting the attack was racially motivated and left him with a brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The suit filed by Firoz Khan, a newspaper delivery truck driver at the time of the incident, accuses West Vancouver Const. Griffin Gillan, New Westminster Const. Jeffrey Klassen and Delta Police Const. Blair Tanino of delivering the beating because of “race, ethnicity or the colour of his skin.”
The suit claims the off-duty Gillan was drunk and standing outside a hotel when Khan was walking in. “Without justification or provocation,” the suit reads, Gillan punched kicked, restrained and verbally assaulted Khan for a lengthy period of time. Klassen and Tanino then joined in, it’s alleged, without asking what was going on or why.
Khan claims he suffers a traumatic brain injury, including headaches, tinnitus and dizziness, as well as stress disorder, and numerous facial, body and dental injuries. He also claims he has suffered “loss of earnings, loss of earning capacity and loss of enjoyment of the amenities of life.”
He is seeking general and punitive damages as well as costs.
While Klassen was in B.C. Provincial Court this week facing an assault charge in connection with the incident, Gillan pleaded guilty to assaulting Khan and was handed a conditional sentence in July 2009. Tanino has not been charged.
The defendants have 21 days to respond to the civil claim, which was filed on Friday (Jan. 14).
