Ex-student awarded $479,000 over attack

A student who was assaulted outside his Delta high school more than 10 years ago has been awarded nearly $500,000 in damages.

On April 15, 2009, Riley Robert Siegerist, who was 14, was attacked moments after he left the grounds of Delta Secondary School on his way home.

Two men, one or both wielding telescopic metal batons, jumped out of a vehicle driven by Michael Daniel Forbe Tilton, ran after Siegerist and assaulted him.

When they paused their attack at Tilton’s instructions, Siegerist was assaulted by Tilton’s older son. When another student tried to prevent Tilton, who was then 45, from joining the assault, Tilton head-butted him.

Court heard that the assault on Siegerist, who is now 26, was said to be revenge for a high-school spat with Tilton’s younger son, also a student at the school, over a female student.

Siegerist suffered a cracked nose, a concussion and bruising throughout his body.

He suffered headaches for six months after the attack and also experienced paranoia, anxiety and depression.

Tilton was found guilty in provincial court of two counts of assault causing bodily harm when a judge concluded he was the directing mind behind the assault. His appeal was dismissed.

Siegerist sued Tilton for damages. At trial, Tilton argued that while Siegerist was injured in the attack, the injuries healed quickly with no lasting effects.

But in a ruling released Monday, Justice Paul Walker of B.C. Supreme Court found that Siegerist had been left with chronic pain that caused frequent, severe and disabling headaches, which continued to affect his mood and caused mental health problems.

“His psychological symptoms are akin to PTSD. His physical and psychological injuries have affected all aspects of his life.”

He said Siegerist no longer plays sports, finds it painful to engage in rough play or physical activities with his young sons and avoids participating in social events outside of his home with his wife.

The judge awarded Siegerist $479,376 in damages, including $125,000 for pain and suffering, $236,000 for loss of future earning capacity, $65,000 for lost earning capacity, $35,000 for aggravated damages and $15,000 for the cost of future care.