A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has ruled that a lawsuit against insurance companies over the alleged theft of eagle sculptures made of gold and silver can proceed, despite significant delays in the case.
The ruling, posted Tuesday, allows Forgotten Treasures International's lawsuit against Lloyd’s Underwriters, HUB International, and others to move forward, more than six years after it was initially filed. The lawsuit was initiated in 2018, nearly two years after the reported theft of the gem-encrusted sculptures.
The case highlights ongoing disputes over insurance coverage and the legal complexities surrounding high-value claims. The outcome of the lawsuit could have implications for similar cases involving stolen insured assets.
Forgotten Treasures owner Ron Shore claims he was violently robbed of the sculptures, which were among the prizes for a treasure hunt organized by the company to support cancer research.
According to the ruling, the gold sculpture is valued at more than $1 million, while the silver sculpture is valued at approximately $50,000.
Shore had insured the sculptures with Lloyd’s and Endeavour Insurance Services through a policy brokered by HUB. Following the reported theft, legal disputes arose over the insurance claims. At one stage, Forgotten Treasures obtained a default judgment against Lloyd’s, but further legal proceedings followed.
The judge’s ruling states that Shore “wasted two years” attempting to preserve the default judgment rather than advancing the case in court. The judge described the delays in the case as “inordinate and inexcusable,” noting that significant time had passed without meaningful progress.
Despite the delays, the judge determined that allowing the case to proceed was in the "interests of justice." The ruling enables the lawsuit to move forward, although it remains unclear how long further legal proceedings may take.
