Freedom Convoy organizers have asked an Ottawa court to unfreezed some of the money donated to them, to pay for legal representation during their mandated attendance at this fall's Public Order Emergency Commission hearings.
'Freedom Convoy' organizers ask judge to unfreeze $450,000 in donations to fund legal fees, appearance at federal inquiry into Emergencies Act | MSN - Matthew Lapierre, Ottawa Citizen:
September 6, 2022 - "'Freedom Convoy' leaders are asking the court to release hundreds of thousands of dollars in frozen donations to pay for their appearance at the federal inquiry into the use of the Emergencies Act.
"The funds, donations made to the 'Freedom Convoy' and later frozen by court order, were placed into escrow — an arrangement where a third party holds the funds until certain conditions are met — awaiting the conclusion of a proposed [emphasis added - GD] class action lawsuit against the 'Freedom Convoy' leaders. The suit was filed on behalf of Centretown residents and businesses who are seeking damages for the noise and chaos caused during the protests in late January and February.
"In a notice of motion filed Friday, a group of defendants in that class action suit said they needed access to $450,000 from the escrow account to pay for their legal representation at the Public Order Emergency Commission, the federal inquiry into the use of the Emergencies Act.
"The group of defendants includes prominent 'Freedom Convoy' organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber. Their draft budget of the expenses required to attend the commission includes $151,200 for the services of a senior barrister, $108,000 for a junior barrister, and travel and accommodation expenses of $83,200.
"Keith Wilson, the lawyer for the 'Freedom Convoy' leaders seeking the funds, said in his notice of motion that the money was urgently needed. The Public Order Commission is scheduled to begin Sept. 19 and the commission has mandated the participation of several of the prominent 'Freedom Convoy' leaders. [The hearings have since been postponed until October - gd] The 'Freedom Convoy' leaders requesting the funds have 'significant concerns about their ability to be adequately represented and to fully participate in the commission without access to funding,' Wilson wrote."
Fox News, Feb. 21, 2022:
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