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Freedom Convoy Truck Honking Class Action Lawsuit Overview:
- Who: Zexi Li claims organizers of the “Freedom Convoy” are violating the rights of local residents.
- Why: Li claims members of the convoy, who are protesting COVID-19 vaccination requirements, have been continuously honking their truck horns to make their presence known.
- Where: The class action lawsuit was filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
Organizers of Canada’s “Freedom Convoy” could end up facing a steep penalty after a class action lawsuit seeking $9.8 million alleges the continuous use of vehicle horns has harmed Ottawa residents.
Plaintiff Zexi Li claims she and other members of the city’s downtown core have suffered “significant mental distress” and “suffering and torment” due to the constant honking from truck drivers participating in the convoy, CTV News reports.
A group of truck drivers organized a convoy as a protest to COVID-19 vaccination requirements, namely that they have to be vaccinated in order to re-enter Canada after traveling cross country.
Defendants named in the class action lawsuit are organizers Chris Barber, Benjamin Ditcher, Tamara Lich and Patrick King, CTV News reports. The complaint also leaves open the possibility of adding the names of the truckers who have been honking their horns during the protest.
The convoy has been joined by others who disagree with general pandemic restrictions and led to a protest of around 8,000 people in Ottawa last weekend.
Li claims truck drivers are using constant honking as one of the main ways to make their presence known, which, she argues, puts residents’ health at risk on account of their loudness, CTV News reports.
Truck horns are not supposed to be used for more than a few seconds, Li argues, while claiming the sound volume measured exceeded levels allowed by Federal Occupational Health and Safety Regulations.
Residents Have Endured Headaches, Loss Of Sleep, Concentration
Li claims residents who have been subjected to the constant honking have had to endure loss of sleep, difficulty concentrating and headaches, CTV News reports.
Residents have also been subjected to harassment from protestors, including being threatened for wearing masks, according to the class action lawsuit.
Li is estimating class members are incurring damages of $100 per day. She is seeking both private and punitive damages, CTV News reports.
Members of the convoy, meanwhile, claim they have an agreement among each other not to sound their horns between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m, the Ottawa Citizen reports.
Disagreements over COVID-19 vaccination requirements have led to a number of class action complaints, including in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Earlier this month, a federal judge in Hawaii rejected an attempt from seven Hawaiian Airlines employees to get a temporary restraining order to block the company’s vaccine mandate.
Have you been affected by the truck honking during the “Freedom Convoy”? Let us know in the comments!
The plaintiff is represented by Paul Champ and Emilie Taman of Champ & Associates.
The Freedom Convoy Truck Honking Class Action Lawsuit is Li v. Barber, et al. in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
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