Airline attached ‘sneaky’ release to payment

Barry & Carrie Winters filed small claim against Air Canada for losing their luggage in 2022

Barry and Carrie Winters turned to the justice system to get reimbursed for expenses incurred after Air Canada lost their luggage on their adventure to California two years ago.

But a message attached to a partial payment from the airline may cost them almost $2,000.

The couple filed a small-claim action against Air Canada in Fredericton court last year, and small-claims adjudicator Crystal Critch presided over a hearing last week for assessment of damages.

Critch noted the Winters had served the airline with the action, and it didn’t respond to it. As such, she didn’t need the Winters to prove their claim, as the non-response amounted to an admission under the law.