B.C.'s largest private company is alleging that a head cashier at a grocery store in Courtney "fraudulently misappropriated" $216,392.93 and then disguised the illegal activity by "intentionally and fraudulently altering" the company's accounting and banking records.
Vancouver-based Jim Pattison Group (JPG) alleged in a Sept. 17 notice of civil claim filed in BC Supreme Court that Linda Elizabeth Nissen committed the alleged "theft" at its Quality Foods store in Courtenay between 2019 and 2022, when her employment was terminated.
None of the allegations have been proven in court and no response to the notice of civil claim has yet been filed. BIV could not find a phone number for Nissen, who is also known as Linda Elizabeth Nissen-Breurkens, but sent her a direct message on Pinterest that not yield an immediate response.
The JPG is a conglomerate that generated about $116 billion in 2023 revenue, the company told BIV earlier this year so it could be included on BIV's annual list of fastest-growing companies. The JPG ranked No. 7 on that list, with 994.3-per-cent revenue growth between 2019 and 2023. It operates in a wide range of business sectors and has more than a dozen grocery banners, including Save-On-Foods, Choices Markets and Nesters Market. It bought what was a 13-store, Vancouver Island-based Quality Foods chain in 2017.
The JPG alleges that the misappropriated funds came from "bank deposits, cash and lottery tickets." It also claims in its lawsuit that Nissen used the money to buy property in Comox and that this property is registered in her name. The JPG said that it is continuing to investigate and trace where the money went.
In addition to the alleged lost funds, the JPG claims that it has incurred expenses investigating the "theft and fraud."
The JPG is seeking $216,392.93 plus general, special, punitive and exemplary damages. It also wants tracing remedies to help determine where funds went and an order prohibiting NIssen from disposing or moving the funds or any of her assets, plus a garnishing order.
