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Drivers who got stuck on Montreal’s Highway 13 in the 2017 blizzard are expected to receive their settlement payments soon. This comes nearly four years after drivers were stranded in their vehicles on the highway overnight during a massive March blizzard.
Highway 13 Class Action Lawsuit Settled
On March 16, 2017, a class action lawsuit was filed against the Attorney General of Quebec and the City of Montreal, on behalf of individuals stranded on Highway 13 South on the night of March 14, 2017.
In November 2017, the Superior Court of Québec authorized the class action lawsuit, and a settlement was approved two years later.
The class action settlement provides compensation for all individuals who were immobilized in a vehicle on Highway 13 South or Highway 520 East, in Montreal, between 7:00 p.m. on March 14, 2017 and 12:00 pm on March 15, 2017.
The compensation provided in the settlement is between $350 and $1,375 depending on the number of hours a driver was immobilized, the age and state of health of the driver.
The period for submitting a claim expired on Nov. 4, 2019. The claims administrator paused verifying claims in March 2019 due to COVID-19.
On Oct. 2, 2020, the court accepted the agreement reached between the Class lawyers and the Attorney General of Quebec to accept late claims deemed satisfactory by the claims administrator and the parties.
Almost 300 Drivers Stranded Overnight in Blizzard
Almost four years after the 2017 blizzard left hundreds of motorists stranded on Montreal’s Highway 13, Class Members will finally be compensated.
“I’ve worked for the Sûreté du Québec for 17 years and I’ve never seen a day like this,” a Sûreté du Québec police dispatcher said.
So, what happened on the night of March 14, 2017?
On March 14 and 15, 2017, a major snowstorm hit southeastern Quebec. Although the weather forecast issued the day before predicted about 20 centimetres in the Montreal area, there was an accumulation of 45 centimetres of snow.
The storm began around 2:30 p.m. and intensified during the afternoon, evening and early night.
Highway 13 south is usually very busy during rush hour and is made up of depressions, climbs and tunnels. Snow accumulates there easily, reports Radio-Canada.
At roughly 6 p.m. a truck got stuck on the ramp to the highway. Following this event, snow removal on the highway was delayed, due to difficulties reaching Highway 13.
Soon thereafter, another three trucks got stuck on the highway, blocking the roads and leading to almost 300 people being stranded in their vehicles overnight. While some waited for hours to be rescued, others abandoned their vehicles and trekked through the high snows to get home.
Stranded Drivers to Receive Settlement Payouts
“As of next week, we’ll be starting payment to the first group of claimants,” said Jean-Marc Lacourcière, one of the lawyers behind the Highway 13 class action lawsuit.
“It’s between $400 and $1,400 depending on how long people were stuck in their car.”
Compensation for the Highway 13 mess is based on the number of hours drivers were stuck waiting to be rescued. The class action settlement also takes into account special circumstances, including if victims were under 12 years of age or over 75 and if they were pregnant or had a medical condition that needed attending to.
It is expected that the claimants will be compensated sometime soon this year. About 2,500 people had previously signed up as Class Members but the final number could vary.
Highway 13 Class Members welcomed the news of settlement payouts.
“Hearing the money will be coming soon is exciting news,” Djemira de Pagter, who was stuck in her car for 11 hours told CBC News.
“I know many people are in financial need due to COVID and hopefully this will allow them to breathe a little.”
Nevertheless, some victims are disappointed with the compensation, complaining that the settlement payouts do not represent the damage and stress endured.
A second Highway 13 class action lawsuit has been filed against the City of Montreal, but has yet to be settled.
If you have already received your settlement cheque from this class action lawsuit let us know in the comment section below!
Were you stranded on Highway 13 in the 2017 blizzard? Do you think the compensation is enough? Tell us what you think in the comments below!
Class Members are represented by Deveau Avocats and Trudel Johnston & Lespérance.
The Highway 13 class action lawsuit is Gilles D. Beauchamp v. Procureur Général du Québec et Ville de Montréal, Case No. 500-06-000853-172, in the Superior Court of Québec, District of Montreal, Canada.
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