Monday, 22 June 2020
Monday, 22 June 2020 Families of COVID-19 Victims to Protest Government Over Immunity
TORONTO, June 22, 2020 /CNW/ – Amidst the news that the Ontario Government is considering granting immunity from COVID-19 civil lawsuits, the families of victims are fighting back.
The potential immunity being considered by the provincial government would protect people and organizations from COVID-19 related lawsuits, if they spread the virus while acting in good faith.
Toronto Lawyers, Diamond and Diamond, spearheaded $150 million in class actions against Revera Retirement Living and Sienna Senior Living months ago. Official provincial figures show over 1700 residents of long-term care homes have died of COVID-19.
“My mom was my everything,” said Tracy Rowley, a representative Plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit against Revera. “Her death was preventable. They were ill-prepared. Something has to be done so it doesn’t happen again.”
“This is unprecedented,” said Darryl Singer, head of commercial and civil litigation at Diamond and Diamond. “The families of these victims lost them through negligence. The government is taking the side of big business over average citizens who are looking for answers. It is shocking.”
Donna Duncan, CEO of the Ontario Long-Term Care Association has argued that many insurance companies will cease coverage without this immunity. Conversely, Singer argues that it appears insurance lobbyists have taken over the conversation.
“These deaths are related to long-standing issues with Ontario’s long-term care homes which started years ago,” said Singer. “They weren’t held accountable then and we fear it won’t happen now.”
A demonstration will take place tomorrow from 11am to 2pm at Queens park (behind the Sir John A. MacDonald statue). The families of victims will demand accountability and long-term change in a unified front.
“Victims deserve justice period,” said Jeremy Diamond, senior partner at Diamond and Diamond Lawyers. “If this goes ahead the government is sending a message that they will protect for-profit homes over tragic deaths.”
OUR TEAM
- Andrei Teju
- Maria Zahid
- Matthew Douglas
- Jacob Elyk
- Harry Gill
- Aria Nejatali
- Jesse Singh
- Joel McLeish
- Kristina Olivo
- Egi Bano
- Ainsa Hepburn
- Cam Woolley
- Nathaniel Brettle
- Charles Thompson
- Stephen Currie
- Alexandra McCallum
- John Sime
- Allan Cocunato
- Loni McDonough
- Samuel Cowan
- Daniel Zeljic
- Taimur (Ty) Akbar
- Lacey Purewal
- Patrick Poupore
- Erika Henderson
- Marina Korshunova
- Brandon Handelman
- Regeena Alapat
- Ryna Kim
- Natalia Poliakova
- Isaac Zisckind
- Joseph Berljawsky
- Michael Clouse
- Sanjay Soni
- Manpreet Bhogal
- Mathura Santhirasegaram
- Nikolai Singh
- Sandra Zisckind
- Jeremy Diamond
- Michael Blois
- Edward Kossev
- Iryna Romanova
- Miriam Kim
- Darryl Singer
- Nadia Condotta
- Tinashe Madzingo
- Ashman Khroad
- Megan Armstrong
- Galina Bajenova
- Veronica D’Angelo
- Corey J. Sax
- Zev Bergman
- Scott Tottle
- Steven Wilder
- TJ Gogna
- Jillian Carrington
- Joshua Himel
- Simon Diamond
- Cory Rubin
- Simon Mariani
- Tatyana Loeffler-Vulpe
- Brandon Greenwood
- Basil Bansal
- Nastassia Ivanova
- Tania Fleming
- George Laloshi
- Patrycja Majchrowicz
- Diana Iakossavas
- Dior Africa
- Alex Ragozzino
- Liana Saccucci
- Richard J. Chang
Diamond & Diamond British Columbia Head Office
1727 West Broadway, Suite 400, Vancouver, British Columbia
Barrie
168 Bayfield Street
Calgary
2713 14 St SW
Calgary
600 Crowfoot Crescent NW #240
Calgary
1331 Macleod Trail SE, Suite 645
Edmonton
4246 97 Street NW, Unit 103
London
256 Pall Mall St, Suite 102
Oakville / Mississauga
2939 Portland Drive, Suite 200
Oshawa
50 Richmond Street E, Unit # 108 B
Ottawa
955 Green Valley Crescent, Unit 315
Sudbury
31 Larch Street, Unit 300
Surrey
1104 – 13737 96 Ave, Surrey, BC V3V 0C6
Toronto
255 Consumers Road, 5th Floor
Toronto
1678 Bloor Street, Suite 302
Vancouver
1727 West Broadway, Suite 400
Windsor
13158 Tecumseh Rd. E. Unit 3B
Additional Areas Served
© 2021 Diamond and Diamond Lawyers LLP. All Rights Reserved.