MPI sues RM after accident with uninsured snowplow

By: Erik Pindera Posted: 2:00 AM CDT Wednesday, Jun. 28, 2023

MANITOBA Public Insurance is suing a rural municipality after it allowed an equipment operator to drive an improperly certified snowplow that got into a collision, leaving the Crown corporation on the hook.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/06/2023 (849 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The public insurer alleges the Municipality of Minitonas-Bowsman and a contractor owe it $38,586 for the February 2022 collision.

In a statement of claim filed in the Court of King’s Bench this month, MPI is also seeking court costs.

The RM has not filed a statement of defence and municipal officials did not provide a comment on the lawsuit Tuesday.

The municipality is about 500 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, just outside Swan River, near the Saskatchewan border.

The Crown corporation claims the RM owns a Toromont Cat snow-clearing machine that wasn’t designated in its owner’s certificate, but it allowed one of its contractors or employees — referred to in the court papers as John Doe or Sheldon with an unknown surname that begins with the letter “K” — to drive it despite the lack of complete registration.

A vehicle must have a valid owner’s certificate, along with its registration card, to be properly insured.

It’s alleged the snowplow operator, using the equipment in the course of his work, collided with a 2021 Ford Edge Titanium, which was insured by MPI, on Feb. 14, 2022.

The Ford was scrapped for $12,310, and MPI paid for tow jobs, storage, tear downs and the deductible, among other costs.

The Crown corporation alleges the operator was negligent by driving in a reckless manner at an excessive speed. It also claims he failed to brake or steer out of the way of the vehicle.

MPI has demanded payment, but hasn’t received it.

“Doe and the RM of Minitonas-Bowsman have refused or neglected to pay the amount owing,” the court papers read.

It is unclear, based on the court documents, why the RM did not have its snowplow properly certified.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca

Erik Pindera
Reporter

Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Erik.

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Erik Pindera
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