TRURO, N.S. — The widower of one of the victims in Nova Scotia’s recent mass murders has filed a lawsuit against the estate of the shooter.
Nick Beaton, who lost his wife Kristen, 33, and their unborn child at the hands of the gunman on April 19, has been named as the representative plaintiff in a proposed class action against the gunman's estate.
Kristen was a VON nurse on her way for a visit to a client’s home when she was shot in Debert, not far from her Belmont residence.
The shooter was dressed in a police uniform and drove a mocked-up RCMP cruiser during his rampage, which began on Orchard Beach Drive in Portapique on the night of April 18 and continued the next morning in Wentworth, Glenholme, Debert, Shubenacadie and Enfield, where he was fatally shot by RCMP.
The mass shooting, the worst in Canadian history, resulted in the deaths of 22 people plus the shooter. Several others were wounded and some pets were also killed.
“I understand everyone, including the RCMP, were victims of this man’s rampage,” Beaton said in a news release by Patterson Law.
“I know this lawsuit won’t bring back any of those senselessly murdered, however, there must be accountability for this tragedy.”
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Truro.
Lawyer Robert Pineo of Patterson Law is representing Beaton in the class action. Pineo said he hopes it will result in restitution for the families impacted.
“Our focus is to ensure those affected by the unimaginable events of April 18 and 19 are not left without some form of restitution,” Pineo said.
“We understand that no amount of compensation will remove the heartache felt by the loved ones of those lost, however, we hope this class action will assist those individuals with some of the financial burden created by this tragedy.”
The name of the gunman is generally being withheld by SaltWire Network and other media out of respect for the victims and their families and to prevent him from gaining additional notoriety.
The action alleges the estate of the gunman is liable to the families of the victims who lost their lives or were injured due to his actions. The action claims special and general damages for the class members and also seeks an order preserving the assets of the estate until the issue of damages is resolved.
Pineo said he hopes all individuals who have been affected will join and benefit from the lawsuit.
Patterson Law has offices in Halifax, Truro, New Glasgow and Bridgewater.
