Press Releases – Coast Capital Lawsuit

Sean Manak Files Civil Claims
Against Coast Capital Citing Extreme Overwork and Workplace Misconduct

A former employee of Coast Capital raises allegations of systemic overwork and workplace misconduct.

Vancouver, BC — Sean Manak, a former employee of Coast Capital, has filed civil claims in the Alberta Court of King’s Bench (Court File No. 397001) and the British Columbia Supreme Court (B.C. File No. 259127), alleging prolonged extreme overwork and workplace misconduct during his employment with Coast Capital Savings Federal Credit Union and Coast Capital Auto & Equipment Finance Ltd.

According to the Statements of Claim, the employer allegedly required Manak to work between 70 and 100 hours per week for several years. The filings further allege that repeated warnings about excessive workload were ignored and that work-related communications continued even after Manak was hospitalized and placed in a medically induced coma. These allegations form the basis of the civil proceedings commonly referred to as the Coast Capital Lawsuit.
The claims assert that Manak was solely responsible for national repossessions, remarketing, and recovery operations tied to a billion-dollar commercial portfolio. The pleadings further allege that he was assigned numerous additional duties, including acting as a de facto manager within the Collections Department. According to the filings, Coast Capital relied heavily on the national and international buyer network Manak developed over more than a decade, which the lawsuit alleges enabled the organization to sell repossessed assets above liquidation value while reducing storage, depreciation, and commission costs. These allegations are central to the scope of the Coast Capital Lawsuit.

The legal filings further allege that after Manak collapsed in July 2023, Coast Capital and related stakeholders continued to contact him during his hospitalization. The claim states that he was advised his role could be contracted out if he did not return to work shortly after discharge. Upon his return, the filings allege that Coast Capital failed to accommodate his medical restrictions, assigned him the backlog of work that accumulated during his hospitalization, and advised that staffing issues would not be addressed. According to the pleadings, Manak resumed working extensive hours and ultimately resigned on December 4, 2023, which he asserts constituted constructive dismissal. These events are outlined in detail within the Coast Capital Lawsuit.

Manak stated that the workload led to a severe medical crisis, saying, “I nearly died from the workload. I collapsed from exhaustion and stress and became so medically compromised that I went into respiratory failure and required a medically induced coma and life support.” He added that the pressure did not stop even while he was hospitalized, stating, “No one should be treated this way.”

The legal action seeks damages for unpaid overtime, loss of income, alleged breach of the duty of good faith, aggravated and punitive damages, and injury to dignity. The claims assert that these damages arose from sustained extreme workload demands imposed during Manak’s employment, the medical consequences described in the filings, and the circumstances surrounding his resignation. The filings allege that these outcomes resulted directly from Coast Capital’s conduct as Manak’s employer.

For access to court filings and case-related updates, visit https://coastcapitallawsuit.com.

About the Case

The civil proceedings concern employment-related allegations that raise broader questions about workload expectations, workplace accommodation, and employer obligations following medical emergencies. The claims are currently before the Alberta Court of King’s Bench and the British Columbia Supreme Court and remain subject to court review. Public updates, filings, and case-related information are made available to support transparency and informed reporting.

None of the allegations described herein have been proven in court. All claims are allegations only, as set out in filed pleadings, and remain subject to adjudication by the courts.