VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Hundreds of current and former female Mounties have come forward to join a class-action lawsuit alleging harassment within the ranks of the RCMP.

The lawsuit -- filed by 19-year RCMP veteran Janet Merlo -- will be heard in B.C. Supreme Court starting Thursday.

Merlo's lawyers expected dozens of other women to come forward after Merlo filed suit in March but attorney Jason Murray says more than 200 people have contacted his firm to join the lawsuit.

Murray says the allegations range from women passed over for promotions to accusations of sexual assault, and they come from across the country.

Merlo's is one of several lawsuits filed against the national police force by women who say they suffered abuse and harassment on the job, including a suit filed by the former spokeswoman for the missing women task force.

Cpl. Catherine Galliford is suing the RCMP in a separate case claiming she suffered post-traumatic stress because of harassment.

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