Bell offers $1M settlement to Yellowknife man, northern customers over 911 fees

A Yellowknife man who has been battling Bell Mobility in court for nearly a decade says he's glad the fight will soon be over, but some details ofhis settlement still need to be ironed out.

James Anderson and his son Samuel launched a class-action lawsuit against the company in 2007 over its 75-cent monthlyfeefor 911 emergency phone service a service that doesn't exist in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon communities excluding Whitehorse.

In 2013, after numerous appeals, Bell was found liablea decision that was upheld by the N.W.T. Court of Appeallast year.

The company is now offering to settle the lawsuit for$1,016,336.57 including interest and court costs.Anderson says his lawyers are recommending he accept the amount.

"It's taken a lot longer than it needed to do, although we were in it for the long term," said Anderson.

"Had I known that Bell would appeal every step I might have thought differently. But it was the right thing to do."

Settling the settlement

The settlement must be approved in courtahearing is scheduled in Yellowknife for June 6.

It also affects about 25,000 other customers in the Northwho signed a contract with Bell before April 13, 2010.

They are currently slated to be paid out of Anderson's settlement, although they have the option of objecting to that payment scheme and/or participating in the June 6 approval hearing.