RCMP Press – City News (National) – Lawyer for women Mounties urges RCMP to settle case
David Klein, whose client Janet Merlo filed her lawsuit last year, was in court for a procedural hearing Tuesday, a day after the commissioner of the RCMP complained the force was being targeted by “outlandish claims.” “We’re surprised, we’re very surprised,” Klein said outside court on Tuesday.
“When you take a look at the RCMP’s action plan (for addressing harassment), they clearly say they want to sit down and settle these cases. My clients have said, ‘Yes, absolutely, sit down with us.’ So far, we’ve just gotten a flat-out ‘No.’”
The federal government wants the court to hear its arguments next month, but Klein argued in court the government’s motion to strike portions of Merlo’s lawsuit should be heard at the same time as the class-action certification.
The judge did not rule on either the timing of government’s motion or the certification hearing, or whether they will be held together.
Klein said the federal government should focus on negotiating an end to the case rather than continuing to allow the case to drag on.
“We’ve proposed to them that we sit down with a mediator and talk about solutions,” said Klein.
“So far, they’ve said ‘No’ to sitting down to talk.”
