Passengers who survived the sinking of the Queen of the North in 2006 have finally settled a class-action lawsuit against B.C. Ferries – four years after the incident.
James Hanson, lawyer for the group, confirmed the details for The Province Wednesday.
He said the 40 passengers settled for $350,000 for the entire group, but that only a small fraction will actually go to them, given the $210,000 in legal costs they must pay first.
After the legal fees have been subtracted, the 40 passengers will have to divide $140,000 among themselves.
Hanson said he would not be comment further prior to his appearance before B.C. Supreme Court Justice Brian Joyce in Vancouver Thursday, when he will be advising the judge to approve the settlement and outline exactly how it will be distributed.
B.C. Ferries declined to comment while the case was still before the court.
In the past, B.C. Ferries admitted it was liable for the March 2006 accident when the ferry ran aground off the northern tip of Vancouver Island. Some 99 people were forced to evacuate. Two passengers – Shirley Rosette and Gerald Foisy – went missing and were later declared dead.
Out-of-court settlements were reached with the victims’ families.
The Transportation Safety Board released a report in 2008 stating that navigation officer Karl Lilgert and another B.C. Ferries employee at the helm failed to make a crucial course correction, which allowed the ferry to run aground.
Lilgert was charged with criminal negligence causing death and has pleaded not guilty. A third officer, who was on lunch break, was also fired, along with the two crew members on the bridge that night.
– with files from Keith Fraser
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