Date Closed

July 15, 2024

Lead Office

Vancouver

Value

130.00 Million CAD

McCarthy Tétrault achieved a complete victory on behalf of Blue Goose Cattle Company Ltd. ("Blue Goose") and one of its directors in a C$130 million wildfire cost recovery claim.

British Columbia brought a claim against Blue Goose and the director in relation to a wildfire near Lillooet, B.C. from the notorious 2021 B.C. wildfire season. British Columbia alleged that Blue Goose and the director contravened the Wildfire Act and caused the fire by not doing enough to prevent trees from touching power lines it owned and operated.

The McCarthy Tétrault team was entirely successful in their defence. The decision-maker determined that there was no contravention of the Wildfire Act because Blue Goose had taken reasonable steps to manage vegetation. Further, the decision-maker rejected British Columbia's theory of causation on the basis of expert evidence and the cross-examination of British Columbia's expert.

McCarthy Tétrault handled the hearing with a team led by Patrick Williams and Connor Bildfell, with guidance from Nick Hughes.