July 17, 2023 - The family of cyclist, Brian Woods from Hamilton, has filed an $8.5-million lawsuit against Marco Ferreira, the van driver who killed the beloved father of two, reports the The Hamilton Spectator. The legal claim seeks damages on behalf of Woods’ daughter Amanda Strong-Woods, son Aaron Woods and two of the collision victim’s grandchildren.
Ferreira admitted that he was searching for his cigarettes at the time of the 2022 crash and pleaded guilty last month to the non-criminal charge of careless driving causing death. He was fined $12,500, must do community service and was banned from driving for two years — except when he needs to get to the GO station.
The devastated family says penalties imposed by the court last month “are not near enough” and their lawyer David Shellnutt, a personal injury lawyer known for his advocacy work supporting vulnerable road users, claimed that stiffer default penalties are required “when motorists kill”, adding that the legal action is necessary because the courts “failed” the Woods family.
Read the full report here.
