Man Awarded $8M for Wrongful Conviction Says He’ll Be Left Penniless if Forced to Pay Civil Damages

Ivan Henry, the B.C. man who spent 27 years in prison before being exonerated of multiple sexual assault charges, says he could end up “homeless and penniless” if forced to pay damages awarded in a recent civil lawsuit.

In 2010, Henry was acquitted of 10 sexual assault convictions from 1983, and in 2018 he received over $8 million in compensation for wrongful conviction and Charter violations. But five women later sued him in civil court, alleging he assaulted them in their homes in the early 1980s.

This January, the B.C. Supreme Court ruled in the women’s favour, awarding each $375,000. The court said it was satisfied, on a balance of probabilities, that Henry committed the assaults.

Now 78, Henry is appealing the decision. This week, the B.C. Court of Appeal granted a temporary reprieve — blocking the plaintiffs from seizing his home or vehicles until the appeal is heard — but ordered him to pay $232,000 into a trust account in the meantime.

Millions given away

In his affidavit, Henry said the $1.875 million judgment exceeds his net worth. He told the court he used most of the award to fund legal defence and gave away more than $2 million to family members and a former partner.

“These gifts were unconditional, with no expectation of repayment,” he stated.

He also said he now relies on old-age security and CPP, lives in a mortgage-free home in Hope, B.C., and owns two vehicles valued at $40,000. His estimated annual living expenses are $40,000.

Henry added that his health has deteriorated significantly since his release from prison, noting he underwent quintuple bypass surgery in 2016 and continues to experience anxiety and trauma from his incarceration.

Unanswered questions

However, the Court of Appeal found inconsistencies in his financial disclosures. Justice Nitya Iyer noted roughly $1.8 million remains “unaccounted for,” and there were unexplained money transfers in and out of Henry’s accounts between 2018 and 2023.

The judge also pointed out that Henry’s sworn affidavit contradicted earlier testimony in which he claimed to have given away $3 million by 2017 and still had $2 million and a house by 2024.

“Those inconsistencies raise real questions about whether Mr. Henry has access to more funds than he claims,” Iyer wrote.

Appeal on the horizon

The appeal hearing is expected to take place in the fall, with a final decision anticipated by spring 2026. The plaintiffs are also appealing, arguing the judge erred by not awarding punitive damages of $1 million each.

Henry has not made any payments toward the civil award to date. Neither his lawyers nor the complainants have commented publicly on the latest ruling.