Sherbrooke Quebec - A judge has approved a mediation session to resolve insurance claims in the deadly Lake Megantic railway blast.
 
Quebec Superior Court judge Gaetan Dumas ruled Thursday that he will preside over the closed-door hearing, along with lawyers for Canadian and U.S. creditors as well as survivors.
 
The mediation meeting is aimed at establishing a claims process for the $25 million to be paid out by the railway's insurance company.
 
In his ruling, judge Dumas said the meeting is not aimed at reaching an out-of-court settlement.
 
The hearing will be held on 26 Feb 2014 in Bangor, Maine, USA.
 
MMA also faces several wrongful-death claims, totalling some $50 million, on behalf of survivors.

Jean-Francois Desbiens.