Category: Saint John

Costly class-action suit

A class action lawsuit involving former city employee and convicted child abuser Kenneth Estabrooks could end up costing the city $26 million.
That was the estimate Halifax lawyer John McKiggan presented to Court of Queen’s bench at a hearing this week, according to the Telegraph-Journal.

The class action received the go-ahead from Justice William Grant last month. 115 potential claimants are seeking damages from the city because it kept Kenneth Estabrooks on the city payroll after he admitted to sexually assaulting two teens between 1953 and 1975. He was just transferred from the police department to city works department.

Bridge washout update booed

Transportation Minister Bill Fraser and his officials got an earful at a public meeting in Hillsborough last night.

CBC reports hundreds of residents showed up to complain about the time it’s taking to fix that big washout on Route 114 at Stoney Creek leading to Fundy National Park.

Fraser and his staff were there to say a temporary bridge should be installed by mid-May…but didn’t provide a timeline for a permanent replacement. Fraser also said an offer of a free bridge by a local engineer was rejected because the tender for the temporary bridge had already been awarded.

The crowd booed, jeered and even cursed at the officials over their answers.