Pubdate: Sat, 11 Mar 2006
Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN)
Copyright: 2006 The StarPhoenix
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/saskatoon/starphoenix/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400
Author: Betty Ann Adam
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada)

FAMILY SUES ALLEGED DRUG DEALER

A crystal meth lawsuit moves forward next week, when the lawyer for 
Sandra Bergen and her parents is scheduled to question a man alleged 
to have sold Bergen the drug that almost killed her.

Bergen, 20, suffered a massive heart attack on May 6, 2004, in 
Biggar, after smoking methamphetamine, a street drug she alleges she 
bought from Clinton Davey.

Bergen survived but suffered permanent heart damage. Now she and her 
parents, Georgina and Stan Bergen, are suing Davey and his mother, 
Dalis Davey, for more than $50,000.

Allegations in the Bergen's claim have not been proven in court.

Stuart Busse, the Bergen's lawyer, said the family wants it 
understood "that if you sell drugs to people, you're going to have to 
pay. And any money you make selling the drugs, you will lose."

The Bergens claim Clinton Davey sold the drug to Bergen knowing it 
was highly addictive and harmful. They claim Davey did so to make 
money and to inflict physical and mental suffering on Sandra Bergen.

The Bergens also allege Dalis Davey was aware that Clinton was in 
possession of the drug and that he used her house to store it and 
sold it from the house. They claim Dalis Davey conspired to addict 
and injure Sandra and was negligent in allowing Clinton to operate 
his drug business out of her house.

In their statement of defence, Dalis and Clinton Davey say Sandra 
Bergen voluntarily consumed illegal drugs, contributing to her own 
condition. They also say because Bergen was engaged in an illegal 
act, she should not be allowed to sue them.

Parents should not be held responsible for the actions of their adult 
children, the statement of defence says. Sandra Bergen and Clinton 
Davey were adults when the alleged incident took place, said the statement.

The Daveys deny the claim that Dalis knew illegal drugs were stored 
in or sold from her home.

Busse has scheduled an examination for discovery with Clinton Davey 
for Wednesday, but Davey is in custody at the Saskatoon Correctional 
Centre on an unrelated matter, which is making it difficult to ensure 
he will be present, Busse said.

Clinton Davey, 21, is charged with one count of trafficking in 
connection with the Bergen incident. He is scheduled to appear in 
Saskatoon provincial court April 7, said Sgt. Brian Jones of the RCMP.

Sandra Bergen has not used the drug since the day of the catastrophe, 
Georgina Bergen said this week.

"Now, with the reduced heart function and stuff like that, she can 
never do it again or she'd be dead. She'll never get a second chance 
like she did the last time," Georgina Bergen said.

Sandra has returned to school, where she is studying to become a 
teacher's aid, and often gives public presentations on the dangers of 
crystal meth use, Georgina said. Sometimes Georgina joins Sandra, 
adding the parent's perspective to the story, she said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom