(Quebec) Former Prime Minister Jean Charest is claiming more than 2.7 million from the Quebec government in the case of information leaks at the Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit (UPAC) of which he was the victim.
This motion by his lawyers, which was filed earlier this week in Superior Court, follows the Superior Court’s judgment which awarded him $385,000 in the same case in early April.
To justify their request, Mr. Charest’s lawyers claim that the Attorney General of Quebec used delaying tactics and abuse of process, in particular by delaying the delivery of documents.
“The Prosecutor abused the process in that the essence of his system of defense was false, manifestly ill-founded and dilatory”, can be read in the originating application.
The Prosecutor would thus have shown “vexatious behavior towards the applicant and showed inexplicable relentlessness against him”.
Mr. Charest is therefore claiming $2 million in punitive damages, in addition to $200,000 in punitive damages.
He is also demanding $512,000 to pay his lawyers’ fees, as well as $5,000 in moral damages.
The amount thus totals more than 2.7 million.
Recall that in his decision rendered in early April, Judge Gregory Moore authorized Mr. Charest to file an additional claim for abuse of process to obtain additional compensation.
