A class action lawsuit filed in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador against the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) was certified on December 30, 2016. The class action concerns line games which are played on video lottery terminals (VLTs) in Newfoundland and Labrador. It has been estimated that nearly 30,000 people living in Newfoundland and Labrador may be included in the certified class action.
The class proceeding, filed by Ches Crosbie, Q.C., alleges that the line games installed on VLTs are deceptively designed, unlike other forms of gambling. In studies, it has been determined that VLTs have twice the rate of causing gambling addiction compared to other forms of legalized gambling.
In certifying the lawsuit as a class action, Newfoundland and Labrador Judge Alphonsus Faour granted Mr. Crosbie’s motion and the lawsuit will now proceed to a common issues trial. The judge relied in part on the evidence of a research associate professor who was retained as an expert by Mr. Crosbie. The plaintiffs will attempt to prove the merit of the allegations at the common issues trial.
The class action team at Wagners has been monitoring the proceedings in Newfoundland and Labrador since their commencement and assisted Mr. Crosbie at the hearing of the motion for certification. Wagners intends to file a similar class action in Nova Scotia. If you or a loved one reside in Nova Scotia and have suffered losses due to playing the ALC’s video lottery line games, please contact Wagners to discuss your situation further.
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