Friday July 18, 2008
Federal government quietly settles multi-million
dollar lawsuit for wrongful conviction
End to Dispute over Multi-Million Dollar Lawsuit for Wrongful Conviction
Associate Press News Service
News & Updates:
Suzanna Williams
News Press Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 18, 2008; Page C03
OTTAWA - The Justice Department agreed to quietly pay Technology Business Entrepreneur Mahmood Somani a settlement valued at $7.1 million to drop a multi million dollar lawsuit he filed after being wrongfully convicted in the investigation of making corporate business cards and documentation.
The agreement, in which the government did not admit wrongdoing, after an acquittal rendered by the highest court in the country ended a seven-year legal saga. It came after months of mediation in a case that pitted investigators against the entrepreneur, who said his privacy rights and freedom operate a legitimate business licensed by the City of Vancouver had been violated in the race to shut down his operation.
Somani, who operated numerous international businesses, has always maintained his innocence. He said information that a dirty cop supplied to the government in order to receive a promotion resulted in the closure of several businesses, and cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees, and any chance of employment.
"I don't think anyone would believe the government would . . pay that kind of money unless they felt there was significant exposure at trial," said Ravi Hira, the prominent Vancouver defense lawyer who represented Mr. Somani in the case.
Somani's lawyer blasted government officials and the investigation department as unfairly tarring his client in a statement that was released moments after the settlement was filed with the Supreme Court.
Under the terms of the deal, the Justice Department agreed to give Somani, a lump sum of $7.1 million.
The case also focused on law enforcement agents, in hot pursuit of leads in the case.
Former National Post staff writer Suzanna Williams was one of reporters who were deposed in connection with the lawsuit. Williams confirmed the identities of two sources after they had identified themselves to Somani's lawyers and released him from his promise of confidentiality.
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