The Ontario government has suddenly settled a lawsuit with a family that was suing Queen's Park and the Ontario Provincial Police for abandoning them to lawlessness after natives occupied a housing project beside their home.
Proceedings for the $7-million lawsuit brought by David Brown, 42, his wife Dana Chatwell, 46, and their teenage son Dax were to start again in Hamilton this Monday after a holiday break. That won't happen after an out-of-court settlement was finalized Tuesday afternoon.
Psychologists were expected to testify about the mental stress suffered by the family after natives occupied Douglas Creek Estates in 2006. The trial had heard testimony claiming OPP officers backed away from incidents with native protesters, and arrested Brown one night when he passed through a native barricade to get to his home.
Financial terms of the settlement are confidential and it was reached without any admission of liability by the government and the OPP. A government spokesperson said the province is buying the home.