A string of typical railway tankcars - Date unknown Don Healy.

18 July 2013

More Defendants in Class-Action Lawsuit

Lake Megantic Quebec - Three more defendants have been added to a class-action lawsuit over the oil train derailment that killed 50 people in Quebec, a team of lawyers announced Thursday.
 
The lawsuit, originally filed against U.S.-based Montreal Maine & Atlantic railway (MMA) and its employees, has been amended to include Irving Oil, World Fuel Services, and its subsidiary, Dakota Plains Holdings, the lawyers said in a statement. The motion was filed in Quebec Superior Court.
 
The lawyers allege the newly named defendants failed to ensure the highly flammable contents in the tankers were properly contained and safely transported.
 
The MMA train was carrying crude oil sold by Dakota Plains Holdings at the time of the 6 Jul 2013 derailment. Irving Oil runs the refinery in Saint John, New Brunswick, where the oil had been destined to go.
 
A spokeswoman for Irving Oil said the company sent personnel to the crash site and provided firefighting foam within hours of the disaster.
 
"We did not own or control the crude oil or its transportation at any time", Carolyn Van der Veen said in an email.
 
Officials at World Fuel Services and Dakota Plains did not immediately return messages seeking comment. The lawsuit seeks compensation for the damage caused by the tragedy, but no dollar figure has been publicized.
 
Author unknown.

Vancouver Island
British Columbia
Canada