Canada - Flouride suit in holding pattern

Charelle Evelyn / Prince George Citizen

A city attempt to get a class-action lawsuit over Prince George's fluoridated water dismissed has been put on hold.

Kootenay resident Kevin Millership filed the legal action back in March alleging the city's practice of adding fluoride to the water is the cause of the degenerative tooth disease fluorsis.

The city was asking the court to strike several allegations - including negligence, assault, nuisance and battery - from Millership's notice of civil claim. Represented by James Yardley, the city was also asking to have Millership's entire action dismissed because he does not have legal representation.

According to the Legal Professions Act, only a person acting on their own behalf can pursue legal action without a lawyer.

In an Aug. 13 ruling, Supreme Court Justice Margot Fleming adjourned the city's application as well as Millership's application to have the class action certified. Millership now has until Sept. 19 to get a lawyer to handle the proposed class action and the city can re-file its application to strike his claim after that date.

"I'm working on accessing funds from the Council of Canadians' Social Justice Fund to hire a lawyer," Millership said, in an email to the Citizen. "I also have the ability to amend my claim and drop the class action component and argue negligence myself."

Millership said if anyone is interested in helping him secure a lawyer, they can contact him at 250-355-2844 or email kevinmillership@live.ca.