The proposed class-action lawsuit over Ottawa protests adds Union 613 and Happy Goat Coffee as plaintiffs, joining Zexi Li, as claim expands to include a class of businesses. Claim now up to $306 million.
Lawyer Paul Champ has also added protest donors and individual truckers as defendants, tells them they should leave town now and offers to settle with them individually if they come forward now. "We will find you," he warns.
Also adds plaintiff Geoffrey Devaney, a server who works in the ByWard Market, representing potential class of employees who lost wages.
Champ says he expects to seek certification for the class of plaintiffs and also defendant classes, sometime in the fall. Says many law firms around city are helping out.
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Tamara Lich's husband Wayne Lich just testified in her bail hearing that he flew to Ottawa on Feb. 2 on "a private jet" at the expense of someone named Joseph.
Crown is pressing Wayne about whether he was aware of his wife's expressions in public that she will stay in Ottawa until mandates end. He says he doesn't watch her videos.
The Crown is pressing because Wayne Lich wants to be surety for his wife. Now he says he doesn't personally support "Holding the Line."
Happening now: Hundreds of police from different units marching past the Westin Hotel, headed towards Rideau and Sussex intersection which still has many trucks.
Actually, a least 100 but not hundreds, from best I can tell on video feed from our cameras.
There is also an armoured vehicle. They are moving in now.
At protest organizer presser, Danny Bulford (r) says under Emergencies Act, Canadians can continue to come to Ottawa and protest peacefully. "We only support peaceful protest."
"The government is trying to order the police to use force against Canadians who are peacefully demonstrating," Bulford says. Calls on more people to come to Ottawa to "make it harder on the government to get police to follow their illegal order."
(Needless to say, this is false. The protest on the Hill is now a prohibited public assembly.)
The hearing to consider a possible extension of the court order against truck horns issued in Zexi v. Barber et. al. is now before the court, virtually. I'll try to relay as much as I can in this thread.
Lawyer Paul Champ says plaintiff wants to add Pat King as respondent. Justice Hugh McLean stands the matter down until 10:15 am to give King a chance to appear. (Currently, only Barber, Lich and Dichter are represented by counsel, Keith Wilson.)
And we're back. No one has joined to represent King. Champ says they are seeking continuation of the interim order issued Feb. 7 as an interlocutory order for 60 days from today's date.
Protest organizer Pat King did an hour-long FB live tonight, mostly given over to him naming members of Ottawa online counter-protest FB groups and calling on supporters to report them for harassment.
It was… mostly tedious. At one point he accuses a critic of stalking him. He defends the “young lady” who runs Stella Luna. And there are threats to deliver cease and desist letters to media for defamation.
There are suggestions the protest will move to Atlantic Canada, and he plays videos by Great Big Sea and Stompin’ Tom. Also: some flatulence humour.