Tar Ponds court action shut down after 11 years of wrangling – CP

Source: The Canadian Press – Broadcast wire
Aug 25, 2015

HALIFAX – The law firm that represents Cape Breton residents who launched a class-action lawsuit claiming the Sydney tar ponds exposed them to contaminants has concluded the litigation should stop.

The Halifax-based firm Wagners issued a statement late Tuesday saying the court action, which started in 2004, has grown too complex and costly after several major setbacks.

The plaintiffs were granted certification as a class in May 2012, but the federal and Nova Scotia government persuaded the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal to decertify the lawsuit in December 2013.

In January, the Supreme Court of Canada denied lawyer Ray Wagner’s request for an appeal, effectively ending the class action.

The law firm recently held a town hall meeting with residents, during which Wagner said the only other legal avenue would be to file individual claims, which he said would be costly.

In the statement released Tuesday, Wagner said too few people came forward to meet minimum thresholds for such litigation.

(The Canadian Press)

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