THUNDER BAY — A Superior Court judge will consider a motion in June to authorize a lawsuit against the City of Thunder Bay to proceed as a class action.
The unproven claims relate to damages caused by pinhole water leaks in household and business plumbing systems that came to light starting in 2019.
Justice Edward Belobaba was originally scheduled to hear the application to certify the class action in Toronto on March 8, but the session was adjourned without explanation. The hearing is now scheduled for June 7.
Adjournments are not unusual, and may be required for any of a variety of reasons, including conflicts in the court schedule and the non-availability of participants.
The proposed class action seeks $350 million in compensation from the city to cover the cost of leaks in water pipes allegedly caused by the use of sodium hydroxide in the water supply.
The proposed representative plaintiff in the class action is city resident Patsy Stadnyk.
If the class action is certified, anyone within the class definition approved by the court will automatically be included.
A separate $350,000 lawsuit against the city, filed by St. Joseph's Care Group in 2020, is still proceeding in court.
