A class action lawsuit is where one person (or a small group of people) brings forward a claim on behalf of a large number of people with similar claims. If the court agrees to certify the lawsuit as a class action, all class members have an equal say and right to receive compensation as determined by the court.

There are a number of factors that the courts consider when deciding whether to allow a class action claim to proceed. For example:

• The number of plaintiffs;
• Whether there are common legal issues or common damages;
• Whether the representative plaintiff (or plaintiffs) will adequately protect and represent the interests of the entire class.

Goals of Class Action Legislation

How is a Class Action Certified?

Some of our Class Actions
Arnold Pizzo McKiggan is currently involved in litigation and/or investigating the following claims:

Antigonish Diocese Priest Abuse Class Action:

Arnold Pizzo McKiggan represents survivors of sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests, Father Hugh Vincent MacDonald, Father Clair Richard, Father Claude Richard, Father James Mombourquette and Father Frank MacNeil who were employed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish. If you or a member of your family was a victim of sexual abuse by a priest from the Antigonish Diocese, you may call Arnold Pizzo McKiggan toll free at 1-877-423-2050 or click here here for a free consultation.

Shubenacadie Indian Residential School

John McKiggan represented more than 600 former members of the Shubenacadie Indian Residential school as part of the steering committee for the Baxter v. Canada national class action. The Baxter class action is the largest class action settlement in Canadian history and provided a fund of 2 billion dollars to compensate up to eighty thousand former students of Indian Residential Schools across Canada.

You can click here to watch a Powerpoint slide show of a presentation that John McKiggan was asked to give to the Nova Scotia Barrister's Society conference on Class Action Litigation on the topic: Playing at the National Stage Pitfalls and Success.

Vioxx:

Vioxx is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) developed by Merck & Co. which was used to treat symptoms of osteoarthritis and chronic pain. Two prominent medical journals have published articles which link Vioxx use to a significantly heightened risk of heart attack and stroke. In September 2004, Merck recalled Vioxx following test results which indicated that Vioxx users were twice as likely to suffer heart attacks or strokes as compared to patients receiving a placebo. If you or a member of your family has suffered an injury which you believe is related to Vioxx use, you may call Arnold Pizzo McKiggan toll free at 1-877-423-2050 or click here here for a free consultation.

New Brunswick Land Contamination Claims:

Arnold Pizzo McKiggan has been retained to investigate a possible class action for decrease in property values as a result of pollution causing land contamination in a community in New Brunswick. If your property has been contaminated by pollution and the value of your property has decreased as a result, you may be entitled to compensation. You may call Arnold Pizzo McKiggan toll free at 1-877-423-2050 or click here here for a free consultation.

Mirapex:

Mirapex is a dopamine agonist often prescribed to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. According to a study conducted by physicians at the Mayo Clinic released in July 2005, Mirapex may cause pathological and compulsive addictions. If you or someone you know has been prescribed Mirapex and has developed a compulsive gambling addiction you may call Arnold Pizzo McKiggan toll free at 1-877-423-2050 or click here here for a free consultation.

Trasylol (Aprotinin):

Trasylol also known as Aprotinin, is an anti-bleeding medication used during heart surgery. A recent Canadian study found that Trasylol actually increased the risk that patients would die during surgery or in the 30 days following by more than 50%! The BART trial compared Trasylol to two alternatives and found that patients who received Trasylol were 53 per cent more likely to die than people who received the other anti-bleeding agents.

Arnold Pizzo McKiggan are currently investigating possible claims against Bayer Pharmaceuticals on behalf of Canadians injured by Trasylol (Aprotinin). If you or a member of your family has suffered an injury which you believe is related to Trasylol or Aprotinin, you may call Arnold Pizzo McKiggan toll free at 1-877-423-2050 or click here here for a free consultation.