Experienced Class Action Lawyers in Edmonton

Court Approval Granted to the Alberta Settlement

On March 10, 2008, Justice Ouellette of the Court of Queens Bench of Alberta granted approval to the Settlement reached with the Alberta Government. A copy of the Notice as a PDF in either English or French can be downloaded here.

Settlement Reached with Government of Alberta

We are pleased to advise that settlement has been reached with the Government of Alberta to compensate individuals infected with Hepatitis C as a result of a blood transfusion received in the Province of Alberta during the period prior to January 1, 1986, and the period from July 2, 1990, to September 28, 1998.

• A copy of the Settlement Agreement can be downloaded here: Settlement Agreement

The settlement itself is subject to Court approval for which a hearing will be held at the Edmonton Law Courts Building on March 10, 2008, at 10:00 a.m.

• The Notice of the Settlement Approval Hearing can be downloaded here: Notice

Settlement Reached with Government of Canada

As many of you are aware, we have been working for several years seeking compensation for the victims of tainted blood infected with Hepatitis C prior to 1986 and after July 1, 1990.

We are pleased to announce that a Settlement Agreement has been reached with the Federal Government whereby approximately $1 billion in compensation will be made available to the victims of this tragedy.

The settlement itself is subject to Court approval for which hearings will be set in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec in the spring of 2007. The hearing dates in Alberta are February 28, March 1 and March 2, 2007.

• The Settlement Agreement can be downloaded here: Settlement Agreement
• The Notice of the certification and settlement hearing can be downloaded here: Notice

We will continue to seek compensation for the victims of Hepatitis C received through tainted blood from the Provinces who have not contributed to this latest settlement.

Background

As many of you may be aware, in 1993 the Kreever commission was set up by the Federal Government to investigate the issue of tainted blood and the procedures used by the Red Cross in administering blood products in Canada. The Kreever Commission recommended that all Canadians who were infected with Hepatitis C through tainted blood be compensated.

The first successful class action lawsuit limited compensation to those individuals infected from 1986 to 1990, thus creating the “window period” class of January 1, 1986, to July 1, 1990.

In 1999 the Federal Government introduced a benefits package for those individuals who contracted Hepatitis C through tainted blood transfusions during the “window period”.

“Equality and quality of life for all”

Based on the recommendations from the Kreever Commission, the law firm of Kolthammer Batchelor & Laidlaw LLP felt that these benefits should be available to all Canadians infected with Hepatitis C through tainted blood, and not just a select few. The spirit behind our lawsuit, based on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, is equality and quality of life for all. A benefit given to one should be given to all.

Thus, in 1999 we commenced our own class action lawsuit against the Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta to claim equal benefits under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms for all individuals who have contracted Hepatitis C through blood transfusions, resulting in the new settlement with the Federal Government.

This lawsuit is not limited to Albertans. Individuals in every Province and Territory in Canada can register with our office to protect their rights and have their names included in this class.