A British Columbia court has decisively rejected a $160 million lawsuit brought by a Chinese woman against the estate of a man convicted of orchestrating her husband’s murder. Yu Fang Liu sought substantial compensation, claiming devastating financial and emotional losses following the death of her husband, Changbin Yang.
The case centered around Long Ni, a Vancouver resident who was ultimately arrested in China and executed in 2020 for ordering Yang’s killing in 2017. Liu’s claim targeted Ni’s estate, alleging significant damages for loss of financial support, household contributions, and the irreplaceable value of companionship and inheritance.
Liu portrayed her husband as a tremendously wealthy man – the most successful businessman in Yichang City – with holdings including a hotel and a coal mine. She requested $50 million for herself and a staggering $100 million for their four adult children, representing lost inheritance, alongside compensation for a planned family home.
However, Justice Gordon Funt dismissed the claim, citing a critical lack of supporting evidence. Despite assertions of immense wealth, Liu failed to provide any financial statements demonstrating ownership or income from her husband’s businesses. The court found that loans Yang made to Ni did not automatically equate to substantial personal wealth.
The lawsuit also included a demand for $113 million in debt repayment, alleging Ni owed Yang a substantial sum. While Liu presented promissory notes totaling approximately $6 million, a Chinese court had already reduced the acknowledged debt to $5.5 million. Crucially, the B.C. court found the documentation insufficient to verify the debt’s legitimacy.
Justice Funt expressed serious concerns about Liu’s credibility as a witness, noting inconsistencies in her testimony during the 24-day trial. He also questioned the honesty of Liu and at least two of her children regarding the sale of creditor’s rights in Chinese court proceedings, suggesting an attempt to mislead the judiciary.
The judgment detailed suspicions that Liu and her family deliberately misled Chinese judges, raising the unsettling question of undisclosed material facts. Funt openly wondered if he was being subjected to the same deceptive tactics.
Liu argued that the B.C. courts were obligated to uphold a Chinese court ruling recognizing the $5.5 million debt. However, Justice Funt firmly rejected this argument, stating that Canadian law does not recognize judgments issued by courts in countries lacking judicial independence – a significant concern regarding the Chinese legal system.
A further claim of fraudulent misrepresentation alleged that Ni and his wife, Li Juan Chen, falsely claimed a loan from Yang was intended for Chinese mining investments, but instead used the funds to purchase Vancouver real estate. Between 2011 and 2016, the couple acquired four properties, including a home sold for a substantial profit.
Yet again, Liu failed to provide adequate financial or legal documentation to support her allegations of fraud. The court determined there was insufficient evidence to prove Ni had misrepresented the intended use of Yang’s funds, leading to the dismissal of this component of the lawsuit.
The case concluded with a stark assessment of the evidence presented, leaving the court unconvinced of the claims made and raising serious questions about the integrity of the information provided throughout the lengthy legal battle.
