RCMP Class Action Heads to Court

First Hearing to be Held in RCMP Female Harassment Class Action

VANCOUVER, July 30, 2012 /CNW/ - This Thursday, the first hearing will be held in the class action lawsuit brought against the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on behalf of women across Canada who allege they were discriminated against, bullied and harassed by the force.

The lawsuit was filed last March in the Supreme Court of British Columbia by former RCMP Constable Janet Merlo. Ms. Merlo is the plaintiff acting on behalf of female RCMP members. She alleges that she and fellow female members, civilian members and public service employees were subject to gender-based discrimination, bullying and harassment and that the RCMP failed to exercise the duty to women in the RCMP to ensure that they could work in an environment free of gender-based discrimination, bullying and harassment.

Ms. Merlo's lawyer, David Klein, pointed out that "this is the first opportunity for the Court to hear an outline of the lawsuit and for the plaintiff and the RCMP to address the schedule for certifying the lawsuit as a class action." He went on to explain that, at the certification hearing, to be heard at a later date, "the Court will evaluate whether it is appropriate to 'certify' the case as a class action."

The hearing will take place:

Date:		Thursday, August 2, 2012
Time:		9:00 a.m.
Location:		Supreme Court of British Columbia Vancouver Law Courts 800 Smithe Street, Vancouver, BC

Ms. Merlo is represented by Klein Lyons of Vancouver and Toronto, and Watkins Law of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

 

SOURCE: Klein Lyons

Jason Murray
Klein Lyons
Suite 400, 1385 West 8th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6H 3V9
Tel: [phone]