Can an individual sue for contribution or indemnity for the commissioning of a criminal offence?
British Columbia, Canada
The following excerpt is from Wakeling v. I.C.B.C., 1987 CanLII 2435 (BC SC):
The court answered affirmatively, adopting the principle expoudned in Burrows v. Rhodes, [1889] 1 Q.B. 816 at 828: It has, I think, long been settled law that if an act is manifestly unlawful, or the doer of it knows it to be unlawful, as constituting either a civil wrong or a criminal offence, he cannot maintain an action for contribution or for indemnity against the liability which results to him therefrom. An express promise of indemnity to him for the commission of such an act is void.
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