According to a report in the National Post on December 14th, lawyers representing tens of thousands of Quebecois in two class action lawsuits against three major tobacco manufacturers will seek fees exceeding $900 million to compensate for their work on this landmark case spanning several decades.
Legal representatives for the class action lawsuit have stated that the court has received the application documents requesting approval to send notices to class action members informing them that the compensation sought involves over 175,000 hours of work.
The day before this action was announced, lawyers stated that the company's creditors, including representatives of the class action plaintiffs, had approved the settlement proposal. The proposal will require several companies to pay a total of 3.25 billion Canadian dollars in compensation.
More than $4 billion CAD has been allocated to the lawsuit plaintiffs, with the requested payment amount from the plaintiffs' lawyers accounting for 22% of this sum.
The proposal announced in October this year also plans for JTI-Macdonald Corporation, Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc., and Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd. to pay over 24 billion Canadian dollars to provinces and territories in Canada, and over 2.5 billion Canadian dollars to Canadian smokers who did not participate in the lawsuit.
The proposal still requires approval from the court before implementation, and it is expected that a motion for approval of legal fees will be included in the hearing scheduled for the end of January.
The spokesperson stated that the total fees requested by the lawyers in the class action lawsuit amount to $906,180,000 CAD before taxes, including tens of millions of dollars in expenses incurred during the litigation process that began in the late 1990s, as well as fees for managing future claims processes.
Lawyer André Lesperance, representing some Quebec plaintiffs, stated in a declaration that...
The requested fees not only reflect the extraordinary scope of work and results achieved, but also demonstrate the lawyer and their team's unwavering dedication. They tirelessly and actively fought against the Canadian tobacco industry, bearing the costs and risks of litigation without any guarantee of payment. This commitment is purely driven by the pursuit of fair and just compensation for victims and their families.
Notice
1. This article is provided exclusively for professional research purposes related to industry, technology and policy. Any reference to brands or products is made solely for the purpose of objective description and does not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, or promotion of any brand or product.
2. The use of nicotine products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco products, is associated with significant health risks. Users are required to comply with all relevant laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.
3. This article is strictly restricted from being accessed or viewed by individuals under the legal age.
Copyright
This article is either an original work by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with the original source clearly indicated. The copyright and usage rights of this article belong to 2Firsts or the original source. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other unauthorized use of this article by any entity or individual is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally responsible. For copyright-related matters, please contact: info@2firsts.com
AI Assistance Disclaimer
This article may have utilized AI to enhance translation and editing efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, errors may occur. Readers are advised to refer to the sources provided for more accurate information.
This article should not be used as a basis for any investment decisions or advice, and 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any errors in the content.
