A Saskatchewan insurance company is suing a dead Clearwater man’s estate in an attempt to recoup costs from a collision on Feb. 5, 2020, although the suit has been filed under the trucking company’s name.
According to a civil claim filed Jan. 7, Q-Line Trucking, which also has an office in downtown Kamloops, filed a civil claim with B.C. Supreme Court against the estate of Joey Ressler when his vehicle collided with the company’s semi-trailer near Little Fort.
Ressler, a 39-year-old man from Clearwater, died at the scene.
But the company told the Times they did not pursue the claim, and their insurance company, SGI Saskatchewan, is behind the litigation, due to an alleged disagreement with ICBC.
In a response to a request for comment, Tyler McMurchy, media relations manager for SGI Canada, confirmed the claim was being brought forward by SGI “in order to recover costs incurred resulting from this claim.”
Reg Quiring, co-founder of Q-Line Trucking, said they didn’t know about the claim until seeing comments on social media. He also said there was no discussion or notice before the civil claim was filed.
After the incident occurred, Q-Line made a claim through their insurance company, SGI Saskatchewan, and it was quickly settled, said Quiring, and they assumed that was it. However, a conversation allegedly happened in the background between the two insurance companies, ICBC and SGI.
Q-Line’s founders and their lawyers have reached out for more information, but they have yet to receive any regarding the civil claim. Quiring also noted that he was told by his lawyer that insurance companies are allowed to file lawsuits under their policy holder’s names to settle disputes between themselves.
“I want to be really clear in my comments: Q-Line Trucking has not initiated nor has any intent or desire to be a part of this discussion,” said Quiring. “This is clearly an insurance company action that we are not part of. How our name is on this claim has still yet to be explained.”
According to court documents, Ressler was travelling on Highway 5 in his 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt when he lost control of the sedan, colliding with an oncoming truck and then hitting the semi, which was damaged in the incident and required a tow.
According to the claim, Q-Line Trucking is seeking losses in the amount of $33,285.57, for tow and repair costs incurred.
The defendant, the Estate of Joey Ressler, deceased, has 21 days to respond to the claim. As of press time, a response had not been filed.
A winter warning was issued for the North Thompson on Feb. 5, 2020, with snowfall of up to 15 cm expected. Weather is believed to be a factor in numerous incidents at the time.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
newsroom@clearwatertimes.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
