Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation has won an important legal battle saving the First Nation millions of dollars.
The Cree Nation was in litigation with Maurice Law – their initial lawyers for their Cows and Plows settlement.
Beardy’s and Okemasis, would switch lawyers and settle with Canada for over $200 million in compensation.
Maurice Law, however, would take the Cree Nation to court claiming over $10 million in contingency fees owed to them from the settlement.
Leaders from Beardys and Okemasis say they had signed the agreements early in the process, which would have given Maurice Law 6% of their Cows and Plows settlement.
According to a statement from Chief Edwin Ananas the judge threw out the contingency fees agreement as being “unfair and unreasonable.”
In addition to saving over $10 million in fees, the court also awarding Beardy’s nearly $900,000 in court costs.
“This was obviously a big win for Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation, but this is also a big win for First Nations generally,” said Chief Ananas. “We are not trapped by these contingency fees, which lawyers have been seeking from us. We have options. We have rights.”
Chief Ananas is scheduled to hold a press conference on the matter in Regina on Friday afternoon.