A Maple Ridge man has filed a lawsuit against nine top executives within the Insurance Corporation of B.C.

Vladimir Kolosov, a 50-year-old Albion resident, is waiting for his day in court in conjunction with a civil suit stemming from a car accident in Haney three years ago.

The self-employed management consultant and artist said legal action was the farthest thing from his mind, until he was rear-ended by another driver just after dropping his wife off at the West Coast Express in November 2009.

It was actions taken by members of ICBC's management team in the months that followed the crash, and which led to a determination that Kolosov was 100 per cent at fault for the crash, that prompted his lawsuit, he said.

Astonished by the decision, Kolosov asked to see any and all evidence and documentation involved in their investigation, and spent months reviewing the material - which he claims also proves he wasn't to blame for the crash.

He appealed their verdict, but lost. Further flabbergasted by the outcome, and despite the added stress and cost involved, he chose to take what he describes as an unusual stance by filing this lawsuit.

Claiming he has nothing against the Crown corporation, Kolosov said he hopes his suit brings attention to the mismanagement of his file by staff, but moreover what he called a "blatant injustice."

Kolosov's suit alleges the nine staff, each with different levels of responsibility, breached their duties while investigating his accident.

In his claim, Kolosov also alleges the entire process was flawed and that it has caused him ongoing trauma and stress.

In the claim papers filed in B.C. Supreme Court last November, Kolosov asks that the decision in his claim be reversed, and that ICBC publicly apologize in a letter, on their website, and in ads in a number of regional newspapers, admitting to "negligence" and "unprofessional action."

Alternatively, he has asked for his claim to be reversed, and to be paid $522,000 - a figure he claims parallels last year's salary and compensations for ICBC former CEO John Schubert, who stepped down earlier this month.

Ironically, he said, it was Schubert's resignation and the recent spotlight on high-level executives at ICBC that prompted him to go public about his lawsuit.

He said repeated attempts to communicate with Schubert during and after his appeal process were stymied.

Kolosov noted he's also filed a civil suit in provincial court against the driver involved in the 2009 accident.

He expects his claim against ICBC's top brass won't be heard until after the civil case against the other driver is resolved.

That case is set to be in court in early December.

rhooper@mrtimes.com