The case planning has so far taken place over several days. The intent is to bring parties together in a lawsuit to discuss how the case will proceed. A judge can raise options for resolving the dispute, dates for the exchange of documents between the various parties, and the use of experts.

Case planning may precede a trial, but BC’s online court information system does not yet list a trial date.

The multiple lawsuits were largely directed against Amaroo Estate, the company that rents the Aldergrove home for events, but the lawsuits have affected several other individuals and businesses, including previous owners of the home who may have built the deck, and of Langley Parish.

Jatinder Singh Garcha, who rented the house and is one of the people injured in the breakdown, was also sued by some of the other injured.

The injured parties and the community have also targeted previous owners of the home, as the community alleged in their court records that the deck was illegally built and the event rental business was operated without a license.

A former owner, Dennis Murphy, filed a defense statement with the courts in January stating that his name had been put on the property’s deed as early as 1990 without his knowledge.

READ MORE: Former Aldergrove property owners have been added to deck collapse lawsuit

Murphy said Ronald Zaruk was the true owner of the house at the time and reportedly added Murphy’s name to the land title.

Murphy said he “first became aware of the transfer … when he was contacted by creditors of Zaruk, including the Canada Revenue Agency.”

He said Zaruk was in charge of all construction while Murphy’s name was on the title.

According to the municipality, Zaruk may have been the original builder of the house, and the municipality claims that either Zaruk, his company Norm-Ron Construction, or a group known as ABC Contractors may have been involved in the construction or modification of the deck.

None of the claims in any of the many lawsuits have been tested or proven in court.

Do you have a story tip? Email: matthew.claxton@langleyadvancetimes.com