This was a mighty act of nature that serves as a warning of worse weather to come as our atmosphere reacts to our activities here on the ground. That’s where our attention needs to be focused, not on looking for fault. Regardless of whether or not these lawsuits have a right to proceed, this report makes it clear that everything that could reasonably be expected was done. Everybody acted in the best interests of the city and we expect the courts to view it that way. – Chronicle Journal December 5, 2012
(full editorial here)
The City of Thunder Bay hired a consultant to investigate what exactly happened leading up to the May 27/28 storm event. Why did the sewage treatment plant fail.? Why were homes flooded with sewage?
The consultant’s report seems to show that the results of the storm event were unpreventable. The City of Thunder Bay claims that everything that could be done was done.
There is another side of this story which will be told by the plaintiffs in this lawsuit. They will also have consultants providing expertise. The case will not be won or lost by consulting engineering firms.
The City of Thunder Bay will have to show that it did everything that could be done to prevent the catastrophe. It will have to show just what measure it has taken over the years. It will have to show records proving it did as it is saying. It will have to show that what it did or did not do is the industry standard.
These class-action lawsuits are being paid for by the lawyers out of their own pockets. They are working on contingency. They don’t win, they don’t get paid. I suspect they know enough about what really happened, that they think they can win. They are betting a lot of money on it.
I believe that the City of Thunder Bay will not be able to prove it did anything to prevent the failure of the plant. Prevent the shit geysers in basements. I also believe that City Admin knows this. I also believe that the City of Thunder Bay will not risk going to court and losing.
My prediction is that this will be settled out of court. It will be covered by a non-disclosure agreement and we will never know how much we taxpayers paid.
