Defence
filed in
death
benefits
wrangle

Sun reporter

sues employer

THE PUBLISHER of = The
Vancouver Sun denies allega-
tions made in a civil lawsuit
that it misled Sun reporter
Nicole Parton about death
insurance benefits.

By Anna Marie D'Angelo
News Reporter

Parton, a North Vancouver resi-
dent, filed a lawsuit on Oct. 2, 1995,
against Pacific Press and Canada
Life Assurance Company seeking
more than $56,000.

The Jawsuit was launched in
connection with the Jan. 26, 1995.
death of
Parton's hus-
band, Province
columnist
Lome Parton.

The money
claimed in the
civil lawsuit
covers spousal
life insurance
benefits from
the insurance
company.

Damages

relating to

emotional dis- NICOLE PARTON
tress. anxiety ... seeks dam-
and suffering ages.

are — atso

requested against Pacific Press in
connection with an allezed breach
of contract.

But the statement of defence
subsequently filed by Pacific Press
denies that the company owed a
duty to Parton to specifically inform
her of changes in her insurance cov-
erage when she became a member
of the newspaper guild.

Parton’s statement of claim stat-
ed that she was demoted from her
position as a columnist to a reporter
on Nov. 16, 1992, by then editor-in-
chief lan Haysom. She became a
member of the Newspaper Guild
the next day.

Parton had insurance coverage
available to management employ-
ees when she was a columnist.
according to her claim.

But Pacific Press’ statement of
defence states that Parton “clected
on her own volition to cease being
aa administrative employee” on
Nov. 17. 1992.

Parton claims she was not told
that the spousal life insurance bene-
fit was discontinued shortly after
she became a guild member. She
chiims she was not informed that
she could have continued the
spousal fife insurance an an individ-
ual rather than a group basis.

Pacific Press denies it made
alleged omisrepvesentitions with
respeet to Parton's inquiries con-
cerming guild-member benefits.

The company’s stutement of
defence also states that HW Parton
failed to learn about the reduced
scope of ber insurance coverage
when she became a gaild member.
it was “caused wholly by the negli-
gence of the phintil Parton.”

To press Ome. ao court date had
been set to hear the B.C. Supreme
Court suit.

Pacific Press publishes the
Vancouver Sut and Provatee

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