SASKATOON – Saskatchewan Wheat Pool has filed notices of default against two of the defendants in its defamation suit against three Manitoba farmers.
The pool says Andy McMechan and Bill Cairns failed to file a statement of defence by the court-imposed deadline last month.
The third defendant, Dave Sawatzky, was served with the statement of claim at a later date and had until July 3 to file his defence with Court of Queen’s Bench in Regina. Nothing had been filed by June 30.
Pool lawyer John Beke said the company has delayed requesting a judgment against McMechan and Cairns until the deadline passes for Sawatzky. If he also fails to file a statement of defence, the company will apply for judgment against all three.
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The lawsuit charges the three with defaming the pool by publicly questioning its financial solvency in a March 15 press release and in later public comments.
A statement of claim is a document in which the plaintiff gives his or her side of the story. It does not constitute evidence. The defendant can respond with a statement of defence. This occurs before the case goes to trial.
