Dozens of women plan class action lawsuit against Toronto club promoter, several nightlife companies

Dozens of women have come forward with allegations of negligence by some of the biggest companies in Toronto’s nightlife industry in connection to decades of alleged abuse by a well-known club promoter, according to a Canadian advocacy organization for survivors of abuse. 

End Violence Everywhere (EVE) has announced a proposed class action lawsuit against what it says are some of “the most powerful companies” that own and operate bars, restaurants and nightclubs throughout the city — companies it alleges “knowingly” allowed convicted sex offender Mark Holland to work at their venues despite the risk they say he posed to vulnerable women. 

A draft of EVE’s class action lawsuit seen by CBC News specifically names Holland as well as Honeycomb Hospitality, Lobby, INK Entertainment and Uniq Hospitality. The suit alleges the companies worked with Holland “despite knowledge or constructive knowledge of his past misconduct,” said the draft lawsuit. 

"Over the span of nearly two decades, numerous women have reported being sexually assaulted, drugged, or otherwise harmed by Mark Holland who was employed as a promoter at venues owned or operated by the Respondent companies,” reads the draft lawsuit.

“These incidents followed a consistent pattern: victims were often approached in VIP areas or at after-parties, supplied with alcohol or drugs, and then assaulted in secluded areas of the establishments or affiliated residences.”

But the proposed lawsuit could be dropped if companies named in it publicly apologize, take accountability and sign an agreement with EVE by Dec. 1, the organization’s founder, Cait Alexander, said at a news conference Monday. 

“So many of us have been awake for decades to the abuses perpetrated by a significant share of promoters, club owners and nightlife operators in Toronto,” she said. 

“The hospitality groups have been hospitable to convicted criminals, supporters and enablers of violent serial offenders, like Holland, and they have been under the illusion that they are innocent bystanders in these sexual assaults. They most certainly are not.”

Alexander adds approximately 30 women who are part of the lawsuit allege abuse related to Holland, while another “20 plus” have come forward with allegations against others that the companies allowed into their venues — some of whom, she said, have already been charged with sexual assault.

The goal of the lawsuit, said Alexander, is to ban Holland from working in the industry and implement policies to prevent convicted sex offenders from entering venues owned by the respondent companies. 

Honeycomb Hospitality told CBC News that it did “not have a comment at this time.”

CBC News also reached out to Lobby, INK Entertainment and Uniq Hospitality for comment on Monday and Wednesday, but did not receive a response. 

The draft lawsuit also calls on the companies to pay “applicants damages for sexual battery, punitive damage; pain and suffering, emotional trauma and psychological harm” for an amount to be determined prior to a hearing on the case. 

Lawyer Kathryn Marshall, who will be representing EVE in the possible lawsuit, said businesses turned “their clubs into a hunting ground for a predator” and did not care about past misconduct due to “millions of dollars” they were making through Holland’s promotions.