NL court certifies Humber Canal class-action lawsuit as ‘fight of a lifetime’

The recent decision by Newfoundland and Labrador’s appellate court to certify a class-action lawsuit against Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Ltd. and the Town of Deer Lake has reignited the fight for justice that Richard Dewey has been leading for a decade. As the representative plaintiff in the lawsuit that was initially filed in 2015, Dewey sees this legal battle as the most critical of his lifetime.

After years of struggling to hold someone accountable for the damages caused by water seeping from the Humber Canal, Dewey’s persistence has paid off. The Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal’s unanimous decision to certify the lawsuit marks a significant milestone in a long and arduous journey.

Dewey’s determination to seek answers and solutions for the issues surrounding the Town of Deer Lake’s water supply, which he believes have been making people sick, has been a driving force behind the legal battle. Through law firms Bob Buckingham Law and Wagners, Dewey expressed his commitment to ensuring that the defendants are held responsible for the damages caused by the seepage from the Humber Canal.

“This has been the fight of a lifetime for me and my family. It has been my mission, on behalf of the community, to fix this canal nightmare and to hold the defendants accountable,” Dewey emphasized in a media release.

The root of the problem lies in the impact of the manmade Humber Canal, controlled by Corner Brook Pulp and Paper, on the Deer Lake community. With homes downhill from the canal, residents have reported persistent flooding due to elevated groundwater levels caused by water seepage from the canal. The resulting damages have sparked a legal battle that will now move forward as a certified class-action lawsuit.

The legal journey faced setbacks along the way, with arguments presented by the paper company that forced a stay of proceedings in 2017. However, subsequent appeals and hearings eventually led to the recent certification of the class-action lawsuit. This validation by the Court of Appeal signifies an important win for the community and Dewey, who has been a tireless advocate for justice.

As the case progresses and garners the interest of affected residents, Dewey and his legal team are committed to seeing it through until the end. The certification of the lawsuit not only represents a legal victory but also a step towards addressing the environmental and social concerns that have plagued the Deer Lake community for years.