Beetle battle ends with out-of-court settlement
Jen White | CBC News | Posted: June 10, 2015 9:29 AM | Last Updated: June 10, 2015
Details not being released by either side in case of hardwood flooring infestation
A Paradise couple who found a rare insect infestation in their hardwood flooring have reached a settlement, averting a hearing in small claims court.
CBC Investigates first spoke with Tim and Elizabeth Stanley in January. They had purchased hardwood from local retailer Atlantic Home Furnishings for their daughter's playroom, but later discovered that it was infested.
Exterminators identified the pests as true powderpost beetles, and told the Stanleys the odds of having an infestation was equivalent to winning the lottery.
They recommended that the entire house be treated, for a total estimated cost of $25,000.
At that time, the local retailer and the Quebec manufacturer, Mercier Wood Flooring, said they were not responsible for the bugs.
The Stanleys took the companies to small claims court. After several unsuccessful attempts to reach a settlement, the matter was set to go to trial.
But on May 6, the case was withdrawn.
Atlantic Home Furnishings' lawyer, Denis Barry, told CBC Investigates via email that "this matter was settled outside court to the satisfaction of all parties, with the terms of same to be kept confidential."
Mercier's lawyer, Jane Crosbie, confirmed that the matter was withdrawn, and said there's strict confidentiality on the details surrounding it.
The Stanleys did not respond to requests for comment.