Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
National

Judge OKs Lac-Megantic Lawsuit Against World Fuel Services And Canadian Pacific

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 09 May, 2015 10:54 PM
    SHERBROOKE, Que. — A Quebec Superior Court justice has authorized a class-action lawsuit almost two years after a train derailment and explosion killed 47 people in Lac-Megantic, Que.
     
    But in his 30-page ruling, Justice Martin Bureau has given the plaintiffs permission to go after only two companies — World Fuel Services and Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd.
     
    The lawsuit alleges that CPR (TSX:CPR) was negligent and there was a lack of prudence in all circumstances leading up to the tragedy. 
     
    The exact amount being sought will be determined at a later date.
     
    Initially, the legal action targeted 37 different parties, including Irving Oil Ltd., the now-bankrupt Montreal Maine and Atlantic Railway and its former president, Edward Burkhardt.
     
    But in the weeks following the tragedy in July 2013, some of the parties sought protection from creditors and also filed a request to have the lawsuit suspended.
     
    That suspension is still in effect and means they couldn't take part in the lawsuit hearings.
     
    Bureau noted that the parties are also working out arrangements with creditors and the victims.
     
    In authorizing the class-action lawsuit, the judge listed 12 issues that will be dealt with when it is finally heard, including whether World Fuel and CPR knew that the fuel being transported was poorly identified.
     
    The lawsuit was filed by three-Lac Megantic residents — Guy Ouellet, Serge Jacques and Louis-Serge Parent — on behalf of all the victims.
     
    In January, victims of the rail disaster reached a major financial settlement with Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Canada Co.
     
    A U.S. lawyer who worked on the wrongful-death lawsuits said $200 million will be distributed in settlement funds to families of those who died as well as other parties involved in the legal battle.
     
    The settlement involves Montreal Maine and Atlantic Canada Co., its insurance carrier, rail-car manufacturers and some oil producers. 
     
    A runaway train hauling tanker cars loaded with volatile crude oil broke loose and barrelled into the town of 6,000 in the early morning hours of July 6, 2013, before derailing and exploding.
     
    It set off several massive blasts and wiped out a big part of the downtown core.
     
    Three railway employees have each been charged with 47 counts of criminal negligence causing death.
     
    Their trial date is to be set Sept. 8.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Best Buy To Offer Use Of Its Stores, Website To Other Canadian Retailers

    Best Buy To Offer Use Of Its Stores, Website To Other Canadian Retailers
    BURNABY, B.C. — Best Buy says it's preparing to offer other retailers the chance to sell their products on its website and allow their customers to pick up their merchandise at its 192 Canadian stores.

    Best Buy To Offer Use Of Its Stores, Website To Other Canadian Retailers

    Union Says 120 Layoffs At B.C.'s Mount Polley Mine Leaves 'Skeleton Crew'

    Union Says 120 Layoffs At B.C.'s Mount Polley Mine Leaves 'Skeleton Crew'
    LIKELY, B.C. — The union representing workers at a British Columbia mine hit by a tailings pond breach says continued layoffs have left a skeleton crew as the facility prepares for a potential restart.

    Union Says 120 Layoffs At B.C.'s Mount Polley Mine Leaves 'Skeleton Crew'

    New Brunswick Man Charged After 2,000 Boys Allegedly Lured Online

    New Brunswick Man Charged After 2,000 Boys Allegedly Lured Online
    MONCTON, N.B. — The RCMP in New Brunswick are investigating after a young man allegedly pretended to be a teenaged girl online and lured as many as 2,000 boys.

    New Brunswick Man Charged After 2,000 Boys Allegedly Lured Online

    Christy Clark Looks Forward To Working With Alberta Premier-Elect Rachel Notley

    Christy Clark Looks Forward To Working With Alberta Premier-Elect Rachel Notley
    VICTORIA — B.C. Premier Christy Clark says she's looking forward to working productively with Alberta premier-elect Rachel Notley for a prosperous West.

    Christy Clark Looks Forward To Working With Alberta Premier-Elect Rachel Notley

    Canada Post Gives Online Shoppers More Options For Shipping Their Order

    Canada Post Gives Online Shoppers More Options For Shipping Their Order
    The postal service said Wednesday that FlexDelivery will allow customers to decide exactly which post office receives the delivery of their online order.

    Canada Post Gives Online Shoppers More Options For Shipping Their Order

    Canadian Man Sentenced On U.S. Child Porn Charges After Emailng Undercover Agent

    Canadian Man Sentenced On U.S. Child Porn Charges After Emailng Undercover Agent
    PORTLAND, Maine — A Canadian man has been sentenced to 8 1/2 years in a U.S. prison for emailing images of child pornography to an undercover federal agent in Maine.

    Canadian Man Sentenced On U.S. Child Porn Charges After Emailng Undercover Agent