B.C. parents sue shelter after son’s fatal overdose
The lawsuit says that Covenant House staff “knew or ought to have known” that Akimana had been recently diagnosed with schizophrenia and been prescribed medication to treat alcohol use disorder.
The parents of a man who died from an overdose at a Vancouver shelter two years ago are suing the charity that operated it.
Gladys Akimana had been living at a shelter run by Covenant House Vancouver in August 2022 when he overdosed on a combination of opioids and alcohol.
According to the lawsuit, his case manager and probation officer had recommended that he stay at Covenant House because he was “a young person with complex needs who could not live at home, and the premises would provide safe shelter and support.”
Akimana began residing at Covenant House in June 2022.
The lawsuit claims that the staff at Covenant House “knew or ought to have known” about Akimana’s personal circumstances, including “his mental health issues and issues with alcohol and substance use.”
It also states that the staff “knew or ought to have known” that when intoxicated, Akimana had previously experienced suicidal thoughts and symptoms of psychosis.
The lawsuit further alleges that Covenant House staff “knew or ought to have known” that Akimana had recently been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had been prescribed medication to treat alcohol use disorder.
“It was reasonably foreseeable to the Defendant (Covenant House) that a vulnerable young person like Mr. Akimana would have a medical emergency as a result of alcohol and/or substance use while residing at the Premises (1280 Seymour Street, Vancouver),” the lawsuit states.
Around August 24, the lawsuit claims that Akimana returned to the shelter visibly intoxicated, leading staff to deny him entry and refuse access to his room. “They forced him to go back out into public and to return when he no longer appeared intoxicated,” it alleges.
Later that day, Akimana returned and appeared “less intoxicated,” allowing him to be admitted back to his room.
The lawsuit states that Covenant House staff did not conduct a well-being check until the following morning, when Akimana was found deceased.
The cause of death was later determined to be respiratory suppression and failure due to the combined use of opioids and alcohol.
Akimana’s parents claim in the lawsuit that they have suffered the loss of future financial support due to their son’s death and are seeking unspecified damages.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
Covenant House did not respond to a request for comment.
