Veterans' Chemical Class Action
Chemical Warfare Veterans Launch Class Action Lawsuit
Suffield Background Material
A nationwide class action lawsuit was filed today by the Merchant Law Group LLP on behalf of the thousands of chemical warfare veterans who "have not only been forgotten but have been overlooked, ignored, insulted and lest we forget die off by attrition", said Tony Merchant.
On February 1, 2004, the Government of Canada officially acknowledged the existence of approximately 3,500 Canadian soldiers subjected to chemical and biological warfare experiments in Suffield, Alberta and Ottawa during the Second World War. Under the threat of a class action and a scathing report by the Military Ombudsman, the Government then hastily cobbled together a totally inadequate compensation program to be administered by the Canadian Forces.
Six months ago the program expired, "leaving thousands of applicants uncompensated and a small percentage of the $50 million dollar compensation fund dispersed in totally inadequate $24,000 cheques to a few hundred sufferers", Mr. Merchant said.
Statements of Claim are being launched in the Federal Court and in the Courts across Canada with representatives from the various provinces to redress "‘The blot on Canadian history’ then referred to by the Military Ombudsman," said Tony Merchant. "‘The blot on Canadian history’ has in no way been removed by the payment of $24,000 to a select few. The vast majority of guinea pigs have been left without medical treatment or pensions."
Hundreds more Cold War chemical warfare veterans from the sixties are "also suffering serious long-term health effects and the same official neglect when it comes to treatment or compensation" the class action lawyer stated. "These veterans will also be eligible to seek redress in this new class action."
The Statements of Claim outline that soldiers were intentionally exposed to highly toxic chemical and biological agents including mustard gas. Many of the participants have suffered for years with respiratory problems, skin conditions, heart conditions and cancer.
"Earlier promises to expedite applications for disability pensions from the men have not been met. The promise by the Defence Minister on February 19, 2004 to repair the future has a hollow ring today", Tony Merchant said.
E. F. Anthony Merchant, Q.C., B.A., LL.B., D.Admin., Member of the Bars of Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and Arizona can be reached at 1 888 567 7777.
Statements of Claim filed outline that 6 representative plaintiffs were intentionally exposed to highly toxic chemical and biological agents, including mustard gas. Many of the participants have suffered for years with respiratory problems, skin conditions, heart disease, and cancer.
The lawsuits also propose compensation for veterans exposed to chemical experiments in the 1940s, '50s, '60s, '70s in other locations including Suffield Camp Sarcee, Camp Petawawa, Camp CFB Wainwright, and Ottawa. Estimates are that over 4,500 veterans may be effected.
Merchant Law Group LLP has 12 offices across Canada, with lawyers practising law in six provinces and an American state. Tony Merchant, Q.C., and his firm are well known for their involvement in Mass & Class Action cases in Canada, including class proceedings regarding Complete Contact Lens Solution, Silicon Breast Implant, Winners/HomeSense, HSBC Mutual Funds, Various Cellular Phone Fees, Molson-Coors Merger, Conrad Black/Hollinger, GM Gasket Manifolds, Lead Paint in Toys (and similar consumer products), Menu Foods, Paxil, Vioxx, Agent Orange, Cryptosporidium Water, Sony, Residential School litigation, CPR Anhydrous Ammonia, and cases regarding ISM Information Security, Tundra noxious gas emissions, Zonolite, Canadian Wheat Board Pool transfers, and various other cases. Tony Merchant is known to be one of Canada's most active litigators with more than 600 reported cases in leading Caselaw Journals, having argued thousands of cases before the Canadian and American Courts, in Trial and Administrative Courts, and the Courts of Appeal of various American and Canadian jurisdictions, the Federal Court of Canada, and the Supreme Court of Canada. Tony Merchant, Q.C., has a long history in pursuing public policy cases and is a former Member of the Legislative Assembly (M.L.A.)
IF YOU WISH TO JOIN THIS CLASS ACTION OR TO SIMPLY GET MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE COMPLETE THE BELOW FORM OR CALL US AT 1 888 567 7777.(Please note, providing your information creates no financial obligation for you. You are not charged any fee or cost for joining this class action - we are simply paid a contingency fee from the compensation recovered, if successful.)
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