RBC suing Universal Ostrich Farm owner over historic unpaid debt

To add to the hundreds of thousands of dollars the Universal Ostrich Farm owes individuals from failed business dealings, the Royal Bank of Canada has begun legal action against one of its owners to claw back a $62,000 debt dating back more than a decade.

RBC filed in court June 23, stating that Karen and Eric Espersen owe the bank $61,996, which with interest now adds up to $122,047.

The Royal Bank said the Espersens have only paid $14,000 of the debt since a court judgement was issued in 2013.

The Notice of Claim says RBC received a judgment in 2013 for $378,652 for an unpaid mortgage. The property sold 18-months later for $304,401, but the remaining shortfall is still outstanding.

The court documents don’t give details of a payment plan, but say the Espersens have only paid RBC $14,199 between November 2014 and April 2026.

The debt dates back long before the farm owners kept quiet after the first ostrich died of bird flu, the protestors turned up, and through rallying cries over “government overreach,” the farm owners asked people for money.

RBC is one of a list of creditors who, over the last few years, have taken the Universal Ostrich Farm to court and have been granted judgments. By last fall, the farm had judgments against it for more than $250,000.

The money is still outstanding despite the fact that the farm brought in roughly $300,000 in crowdfunding since the plight of the 300 birds made worldwide headlines.

In April, Universal Ostrich Farm co-owner Dave Bilinski told iNFOnews.ca the money from crowdfunding was spent on legal fees and farm costs and none of the individuals they owed money to had been paid back.

The Espersens’ money woes date back years, and in 2013, they were facing foreclosure of their property near the ostrich farm.

Karen’s sister and brother-in-law, Catherine and Owen Quigley, stepped in and bought the property and came to an arrangement over its future.

However, details of that arrangement are being disputed.

In 2021, Karen began legal action against her sister, accusing her of reneging on the property deal.

In April, Karen testified at the Vernon courthouse, saying that the property was transferred to her sister “temporarily” and “in trust.”

Karen’s sister didn’t see it like that and in court filings said the land was supposed to be subdivided and sold back.

The trial has now finished, and the judge will make a decision on the case sometime in the future.

Karen and Erik Espersen have not filed a response in court.

Karen did not return our request for comment.