Appeals court upholds liable suit against Sudbury in catastrophic crash

Ontario's top court says a judge was correct in ruling that a devastating car crash occurred only because a municipality negligently failed to ensure the road was snow-free.

The Court of Appeal upheld a $12 millionaward for Lisa Marie Belanger, saying it found no reason to interfere with an earlier decision that Sudbury was liable for her catastrophic injuries.

• Greater Sudbury appeals $12M lawsuit win for woman injured in car crash

Belanger and her family sued the city and regional municipality for negligence following her November 2000 crash.

They arguedthat local authorities had failed to keep the road in a reasonable state of repair.

Superior Court Justice Robbie Gordon found the region 100 per cent liable for Belanger's injuries, after deciding the crash occurred only because the road was snow-covered and slippery due to improper maintenance.