Avon Canada has launched a lawsuit seeking about $25,000 in damages following a municipal water-main breakage in early January.
According to Quebec Superior Court documents recently filed by Avon, a security guard at the directsales beauty products company called a Pointe-Claire inspector on Jan. 2 at about 1 a.m. to report a nearby water-main break was causing flooding at their head offices along the Highway 40 service road. A couple of hours later, a crew from the city was dispatched to examine the extent of damages. Avon states the city informed them repairs could not be carried out immediately since some required pieces were not available in the city’s stock, in the region or even in the province and that the water would have to be cut off until repairs are completed. Due to the intense cold temperatures, shutting off the water caused considerable damages to pipes at Avon. While repairs were carried out on the broken water-main, Avon’s staff was deprived of tap water, from using toilets and the company faced other inconveniences, the lawsuit maintains. Avon, stating it followed directives from Pointe-Claire and that the city was responsible for any damages, sent a $25,100 bill in February, which was not paid, prompting a lawsuit. Avon added that, against all odds, it was recently informed by Pointe-Claire the broken water-main belongs to the City of Montreal. Avon has now named both municipalities as co-defendants as Montreal also didn’t pay the damages claim.
Avon and Montreal officials declined to comment on the ongoing lawsuit.
A preliminary court date in the case is set for July 8.