Individuals facing a $300 million class action lawsuit for organizing truck driver convoy protests in the federal capital, Ottawa, in 2022, are attempting to have the case dismissed entirely or moved out of Ottawa, where estimates suggest that this lawsuit may involve around 15,000 people.

Defense attorneys for the organizers of the truck driver protest convoys are preparing to reject the lawsuit filed against their clients. They argue that this lawsuit unnecessarily restricts freedom of expression in a matter concerning the public interest.

Requesting to move the trial out of Ottawa:

It is noted that the lawyers also represent other defendants, most of whom are heavily involved in managing and collecting donations during the protest convoys. These attorneys assert that the trial should be moved outside of Ottawa, where the American crowdfunding site (GiveSendGo) raised over $12 million during the protests. According to the site's founder, Jacob Wells, and others who handled the donations, a fair trial cannot be conducted in Ottawa.

The lawyers also intend to propose moving the case to the city of Toronto to be heard by the Superior Court of Justice in the Queen City.

For his part, attorney Paul Champ, who is behind the proposed class action, expressed doubt about the success of either proposal, whether it be to dismiss the case or to transfer it to Toronto.

In this attorney's view, for whatever reason, it seems that the defense attorneys still do not take the case seriously. They are trying to do everything they can to slow it down.

In the same context, attorney James Manson denied that this was the case. He stated that there is a significant backlog in the Canadian judicial system and that he would do nothing to increase this backlog.

According to him, his duty to his clients is to ensure justice is served.

Criminal trials:

Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, who are among those who organized the protest convoys, are scheduled to stand trial next September on criminal charges related to the protests that shut down downtown Ottawa for several weeks during the winter of 2022.

They face charges of mischief, obstructing police work, and advising others to commit mischief and intimidation.

Another organizer, Pat King, is facing charges of mischief, counseling to commit mischief, disobeying a court order, and obstructing police work. His trial is set to take place next November.