By Judi McLeod —— Bio and Archives February 5, 2022
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“The update we issued earlier (below) enabled all donors to get a refund and outlined a plan to distribute remaining funds to verified charities selected by the Freedom Convoy organizers. However, due to donor feedback, we are simplifying the process. We will automatically refund all contributions directly — donors do not need to submit a request. You can expect to see your refund within 7–10 business days. (GoFundMe, Feb. 5. 2022)Not to be outdone, the Ottawa government is in court TODAY: ‘Lawsuit filed against convoy organizers, seeking damages on behalf of downtown Ottawa residents’-(CTV, Feb. 45, 2022)
“Organizers of the “Freedom Convoy” that has gridlocked downtown Ottawa for the last week are facing a potential $9.8-million class-action lawsuit over continuous vehicle horn noise, filed on behalf of residents of the city’s downtown core. “According to a statement of claim filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on Friday by lawyer Paul Champ, the lawsuit is seeking $4.8 million for “private nuisance” and another $5 million in “punitive damages.”
"The statement of claim focuses on the honking as one of the main “coordinated” tactics convoy participants have used to make their presence known, alleging that the use of horns as organized by the defendants has caused “significant mental distress, suffering and torment to the plaintiff and the proposed class members.” “The case is set to go to court on Saturday afternoon, as the plaintiff is seeking an injunction calling for an end to the continued “nuisance” being experienced by downtown residents that have now faced a week of disruptions due to the ongoing demonstration. “The lead plaintiff, Zexi Li, is a 21-year-old public servant who lives within five blocks of Parliament Hill, though class certification is being sought, with “all persons who reside in Ottawa, Ontario, from Bay Street to Elgin Street and Lisgar Street to Wellington Street” being considered potential members of the class action. “The statement of claim names Chris Barber, Benjamin Ditcher, Tamara Lich and Patrick King as convoy organizers, but also leaves the opportunity for up to 60 other defendants to be named, should the drivers of the semi-trucks who are parked downtown and blasting their horns in protest, be identified. “The court filing alleges that the horns on semi-trucks emit noise in the range of 100 to 150 decibels and are not meant to be used for longer than a few seconds because the sound levels are dangerous and can cause permanent damage to the human ear.”
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Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years’ experience in the print media. A former Toronto Sun columnist, she also worked for the Kingston Whig Standard. Her work has appeared on Rush Limbaugh, Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com.