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ZAr' Weekend* Mitn alndepenctem Frn~c *Fre" Dehvey * iten Dni ina ,AvaslahIf'4 70 Man StE *754*4 sing Communication to Buid Better Communties' A Metroland Conmmunity Newspaer Vol. 144 No. 38 Fnidav. Julv 25, 2003 36 ~PaP(.s Vfist US d Lawyer preparing class action law suit against banquet hall e ÈII1 Photo by GRAHAM PAINE v Sad day fMichael Danielli leans against an empty trailer that once held 19 BMX bikes for the Riders Ready program for special needs children. Organizers of the group discovered Wednesday fthat the bikes had been stolen from Miltons Track 2000 BMX race track. See story page 2. amirnAnimial HoSpital Dr. Debbie Uawklnç ~ By STEPHANIE THIESSEN The Champion An E.C. Drury student who was 1 Il with E. coli and her father have retained the services of a promni- nent lawyer for what's expected to %be a multi-million-dollar class action Iawsuit. Jennifer ONeillI one of' 85 students i.Tax hike 5 could be coming By JASON MISNER The Champion A final budget is still months away, but preliminary figures show Miltonians could face as high as a 5 per cent property lax hike next yearjust to maintain currenî serv- ice levels. It would amount to an average of about an extra $30 per household on a home assessed at $250.000. It stands 10 be the second consecutive tax hike after the Town experienced zero finereases between 1993 and 2002. ibis year's tax mecrease was 2 per cent. Addressing growth demands is a large part of the 2004 tax pressures. "In recent years the Town bas been increasingly subjected to thse pressures of growth," stated a 15-page report released at a recent counicil meeting. "Expenditures to provide services to aIl residents and busi- nesses within the town have grown sub- stantially.' Town treasurer Jim McQueen said Milton's quick growth is certainly posing many challenges. 'We are now siarting to sec rthc costs of new growîh areas by Iaving to provide more ol Ise same serice, like maintainsng more roads and maintaining more parks,- ' see COUNCILLORS on page 12 who reported becorng iii with E. coli-like symptoms after their June 25 prom night - is now listed as the plaintiff in the beginning stages of the lawsuit against Mississaugas Trillium Banquet Hall. Windsor's three-lawyer firm Sutis Strosberg LLP bas been hired. Lead coun- sel Harvey Strosberg has been called Canadas mosi experienced class action counsel. Mr. Strosberg was lead counsel two years ago in the Walkerton contaminated water class action lawsuit against the town and provincial govemment. He was also lead counsel in the 1986 to 1990 Hepatitis C class action suit, which saw about $850,000,000 recovered for the members of bis class action. I-is daughter, Sharon Strosberg, wiIl be one of the lawyers As orking with him. Ms Strosberg told The Champion the firm hopes to issue the dlaim, beginning the lawsuit, by îoday or Monday at the latest. Although she couldn't give an exact fig- ure, Ms Strosberg said the lawsuit will be "in the millions." She said it just isnt fair that students who see CAUSE on page 13 Comment ......6-7 Lit estyles ....... 9 Dateline ....... 17 Sports ...... 24-26 Classif led .... .31-34 eFrlday, JuIy 25 a *AAP * -Loblaws * Shappers Drug Mar *e ZeIIers* 0 Walmas * 0 A * 0Abntas Carpels * 0Sarr* " Cristelloes Village Mar* eFooid Bsscs * *Canadien Tir * -No Filils a Sleep FacoiV * -Ferlions * ebka' " Home Hardware'*- Actas Garden Market'*e Sobeys* *Future Shep'* -Etan Allen'* eMDGOCamelotrs' 'Seiscied arias îsly . - - - - --.7 , - -.., -- , -'" 1 cteU3