The City of Montreal could find itself on the hook paying restitution to pedestrians who claim they suffered injuries this winter due to slips and falls on poorly cleared and icy sidewalks and crosswalks.
So far this season, the City has received 108 claims from pedestrians who allege icy sidewalks have caused falls and personal harm.
The number of claims has increased compared to the last two years.
According to La Presse, very few complainants have ever succeeded in their pursuits for compensation for their injuries and troubles over the last seven years, but that could change in 2018.
In a January 28 tweet from Verdun Borough Mayor and Montreal Executive Committee member, Jean-François Parenteau, the mayor acknowledged the they'd dropped-the-ball on clearing municipal streets and sidewalks.
Déneigement: Un chargement est décrété pour demain 19h00. Le redoux n’est pas aussi grand et l’accumulation prévu lundi n’est plus au rendez-vous. À postériori nous aurions pu décréter avant. Ce fut un mauvais choix de ma part et je m’en excuse! #polmtl pic.twitter.com/lOIeK521ZW
— J-F Parenteau (@JFParenteau) January 27, 2018
In hindsight, Parenteau said "it was a bad choice on my part and I apologize."
That meaculpa could find it's way into legal discussions with lawyers who are representiung the 108 pedestrians who claim to have suffered falls on sidewalks that did not receive the necessary attention to keep them safe.