From Nuclear Bunker To Seismic Liability At Victoria Law Courts

 

A building can be “safe” for the wrong disaster, and Victoria’s main courthouse may be the clearest example of that. We walk through how Victoria Law Courts was completed in 1962 with Cold War priorities in mind: reinforced concrete, a basement designed to function as a nuclear fallout shelter, standby power, water supplies, and even features meant to manage bomb-blast shock. Then we ask the uncomfortable modern question for British Columbia: what does that kind of design mean when the realistic threat is a major earthquake?

We also trace what happened after the original build, including the decision to add two extra storeys in the 1970s and what later seismic assessments reportedly said about the building’s ability to meet modern structural expectations. We talk about why seismic retrofits are hard, what “pancake” collapse risk implies for a busy public building, and why small preparedness gestures can feel inadequate when the underlying structure is the real hazard. Along the way, we look at government decision-making signals, including later facility condition assessments and why some of the key rationale appears to be redacted from public view.

In the second half, we shift to tech, competition, and consumer impact: a certified class action against Apple tied to the long-running Apple and Google deal that keeps Google as the default iPhone search engine. We unpack the Competition Act claims, the argument that market dominance can inflate online advertising prices, and how arbitration clauses can block lawsuits against major companies. We also explain what certification means, how expert economic evidence can be used at this stage, and why British Columbia’s class action rules can turn a case into a Canada-wide opt-out claim.

If you care about public safety, seismic risk, competition law, or the power tech platforms have over everyday markets, hit subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review. What part of this story worries you most?

 

Legally Speaking with Michael Mulligan is live on CFAX 1070 every Thursday at 12:30 p.m. It’s also available on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.