SASKATOON – A group of Saskatchewan farmers unhappy with changes to the Gross Revenue Insurance Plan in 1992 finally saw the inside of a courtroom last week.
But it was merely a preliminary skirmish in what could turn into a long, drawn-out legal battle.
Two groups of farmers are suing the Saskatchewan government and Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp., saying GRIP was changed without proper notice in March 1992.
They say the government violated their crop insurance contracts and want retroactive payments for 1992 based on 1991 GRIP rules.
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A group from Melville is pursuing a class action suit on behalf of all GRIP contract holders. A group from the Prince Albert area seeks damages for 386 farmers who are paying for the court challenge.
Question witnesses
Examination for discovery got under way in Saskatoon Feb. 1. That’s a closed-door proceeding during which lawyers from both sides question witnesses to find out what evidence will eventually be presented at trial.
The examination for discovery is expected to continue in the first week of March.
In legal documents filed previously, the crop insurance corporation said it met all of its legal obligations to contract holders and because it extended the deadline to opt out of GRIP, farmers actually had more notice than required. The provincial government says it had no contracts with farmers and so is not liable for any damages.
The farmers are also challenging a provincial law which stated proper procedures had been followed in changing GRIP and prohibiting any lawsuits.
