OC Transpo Bus Lawsuit Claims City Withheld Information From the Children of a Man Killed

The family of a man who died after being hit by an OC Transpo bus are suing Ottawa claiming the city duped them into small settlements after their father’s death.

According to a report by the CBC, neither of the man’s children had graduated from high school when they say the city presented them with releases shortly after their father’s death that provided a total of $15,000 as a part of a deal not to sue the City. The plaintiffs say that due to their lack of education and haze of grief after their father’s sudden death, they did not understand the terms of the releases.

In addition to the City of Ottawa, the plaintiffs named the driver of the bus as a defendant in their OC Transpo bus lawsuit.

The plaintiffs’ father was reportedly struck and killed by a city bus just before 8 am on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019 in East Ottawa. Despite efforts by bystanders and medical personnel, the man succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

According to the OC Transpo bus lawsuit, the man’s children were presented with the releases shortly after they learned of his death. They say they did not know many of the details of the accident and if anyone would be held responsible.

“In the immediate aftermath of [their father’s] violent death, with many questions unanswered (including but not limited to whether defendant Thomas would be charged),” alleges the OC Transpo bus lawsuit.

The pair say that as a part of asking them to sign the releases, the City of Ottawa had a duty to tell them that they could sue the city and potentially be awarded more money than offered in the release.

One of the siblings alleges that, in the process of signing the release and learning the city was only willing to pay $10,000, she asked a city investigator “Is this all my father’s life is worth?” Allegedly, the city investigator should have responded by telling her that she may obtain more compensation if she sued the city, but the $10,000 was all the City of Ottawa was prepared to pay at that moment. Instead, the investigator ignored her question according to the OC Transpo bus lawsuit.

Both siblings have psychiatric disorders, according to the Ottawa Citizen. The lawsuit says that due to their lack of education and emotional state at the time, neither were in any position to negotiate and sign the releases.

The OC Transpo bus lawsuit is seeking $590,000, including $250,000 from the City of Ottawa and the bus driver, who the plaintiffs say was negligent.

In a statement issued in response to the OC Transpo bus lawsuit, the City of Ottawa maintains that it was not required to disclose anything further to the plaintiffs.

“It must be noted that the city cannot provide legal advice or counsel to a claimant and must rely on the signing of the release as evidence that the claimant has taken the opportunity to consult with a lawyer in order to understand their legal rights and the consequences of accepting a settlement of their claim,” the city said in a statement. 

Do you think it was fair to ask the plaintiffs to sign a release shortly after learning of their father’s death? Let us know in the comments below!

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