M II A II R II K
Senior Member
St. Clair merchants launch $100-million class action over streetcar debacle
March 25, 2010
Megan O’Toole
Read More: http://network.nationalpost.com/NP/...lion-class-action-over-streetcar-debacle.aspx
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The city is facing a new storm over the troubled St. Clair streetcar project, in the form of a $100-million lawsuit that casts a shadow over Toronto’s massive planned light-rail expansion. Lawyer Stephen Edell, who is representing dozens of merchants and landlords along St. Clair Avenue West, yesterday issued the claim against the city, the province and the Toronto Transit Commission.“The record of what happened on St. Clair is a clear and obvious one,†Mr. Edell said, citing “many besieged merchants on the street, many who are holding on to their stores by the flimsiest of margins, many of whom have lost their businesses.â€
The claim seeks $100-million in damages and a further $5-million in punitive damages against the City of Toronto only. The named plaintiff, Curactive Organic Skin Care Ltd., is acting as a representative party for a group of commercial interests on St. Clair between Bathurst Street and Old Weston Road. The claim alleges a “complete breakdown†in the St. Clair project’s co-ordination, leading to substantial delays that negatively impacted local businesses.
“After construction prematurely began, debate continued about project scope and design, resulting in the uncertainty and confusion caused by changes in project scope,†the claim alleges. “Further, and in particular concerning St. Clair Avenue West from Bathurst Street westwards, chaos and inordinate delays resulted from a lack of supervision, the mismanagement of contractors... and conflict in the oversight and control of the project.â€
Similar concerns were cited in a recent report commissioned by the TTC, which decided to review the St. Clair project as it launches Transit City, a $9-billion plan to weave 120 kilometres of light-rail track across Toronto.
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March 25, 2010
Megan O’Toole
Read More: http://network.nationalpost.com/NP/...lion-class-action-over-streetcar-debacle.aspx
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The city is facing a new storm over the troubled St. Clair streetcar project, in the form of a $100-million lawsuit that casts a shadow over Toronto’s massive planned light-rail expansion. Lawyer Stephen Edell, who is representing dozens of merchants and landlords along St. Clair Avenue West, yesterday issued the claim against the city, the province and the Toronto Transit Commission.“The record of what happened on St. Clair is a clear and obvious one,†Mr. Edell said, citing “many besieged merchants on the street, many who are holding on to their stores by the flimsiest of margins, many of whom have lost their businesses.â€
The claim seeks $100-million in damages and a further $5-million in punitive damages against the City of Toronto only. The named plaintiff, Curactive Organic Skin Care Ltd., is acting as a representative party for a group of commercial interests on St. Clair between Bathurst Street and Old Weston Road. The claim alleges a “complete breakdown†in the St. Clair project’s co-ordination, leading to substantial delays that negatively impacted local businesses.
“After construction prematurely began, debate continued about project scope and design, resulting in the uncertainty and confusion caused by changes in project scope,†the claim alleges. “Further, and in particular concerning St. Clair Avenue West from Bathurst Street westwards, chaos and inordinate delays resulted from a lack of supervision, the mismanagement of contractors... and conflict in the oversight and control of the project.â€
Similar concerns were cited in a recent report commissioned by the TTC, which decided to review the St. Clair project as it launches Transit City, a $9-billion plan to weave 120 kilometres of light-rail track across Toronto.
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