Number of claims in class action against Leduc remains secret for now

Class action Leduc Fire Services

A bid by the plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit filed against the city of Leduc to reveal the number of women who have had their claims settled has been denied.

The plaintiff's lawyer, Robert Martz, made the request in a Calgary courtroom however, it was dismissed by Justice Price of Court of King's Bench.

The following is her reason as they appear in court transcripts;

"I am concerned that the disclosure of the information that the representative Plaintiffs want to disclose, that being the number of claimants that have been advanced and the number that have -- the specific number of claims that have succeeded or have reached settlement, would have a negative impact of disclosing information that is unintended about individuals who have come forward."

Martz admits his clients were disappointed with the ruling.

"They were interested in having that number come out there.  They believed that it would help," Martz told the One in an exclusive interview.  "And the judge did leave it open to potentially come back and talk about this issue again."

Justice Price did clarify the rules for what could be disclosed by the plaintiffs;

• “Numerous” and/or “many” claimants have come forward;

• The claims process is working effectively and efficiently as designed in a confidential process that does not include anyone from the City of Leduc;

• Only Leduc's insurer and the insurer's appointed legal counsel are involved in the claims assessment process; 

• There has been no disclosure of a claimant's personal information to Leduc; claimants'  names have not been disclosed to Leduc; 

• There has been no retaliation and certainly no evidence of retaliation by Leduc to any  claimant who has come forward; 

• The claims process has remained non adversarial as designed; this process has resulted  in the settlement of many claims; 

• The vast majority of the claims advanced have been approved.

Martz isn't sure if he'll make another request for disclosure of the information at a later date.

Women who worked for the city between 2002 and last year's settlement date have until August of this year to come forward and opt-in to the class action.