Windsor and Tecumseh Take Step to Raise Awareness of Effects of Bingo Lawsuit

A bingo lawsuit is being defended by the City of Windsor and the Town of Tecumseh, this comes from class action lawsuits that stem from licence fees for bingo and other charitable gaming events dating back to 1993. At the maximum, individual licence fees were $165.  The publication of the Notice to the Class in the Saturday Windsor Star starts the clock ticking on the 120 day opt out period.

If this class action succeeds and damages are awarded, the amount could be in excess of $70 million. To put the number in context, that amount could build 6 or 7 new community centres.

The City of Windsor and the Town of Tecumseh are taking steps to build awareness about this important lawsuit. In doing so, we hope to persuade the organizations that have raised money through bingo and lottery events – many of whom are unaware that they are part of the class action lawsuit – that they should consider opting out of the lawsuit before the Opt Out period expires on May 15, 2016.

Windsor Mayor Dilkens states, “We believe that opting out will help ensure we can support our roads and infrastructure, our community services, and our parks and recreation facilities.  Considering how much revenue these organizations made from these bingo events, opting out of the lawsuit is a clear sign that they too support our municipalities.”

Tecumseh Mayor McNamara further adds, “Insurance won’t cover this expense. The same residents and businesses in Windsor and Tecumseh who support these organizations may end up paying for this lawsuit.”

Both Mayors are asking organizations that conducted fund raising bingo events to consider opting out.

For more information, visit www.HelpWindsorTecumseh.com.  The websites created by the class action lawyers have more information and are found at www.windsorbingoclassaction.ca and www.tecumsehbingoclassaction.ca.