In her filing, Lisa Banfield says her reputation and quality of life were damaged and she endured pain and suffering, loss of income, out-of-pocket expenses, legal fees and medical expenses. The statement of claim filed Oct. 21 does not list a dollar amount, but seeks damages in an amount to be determined by the Nova Scotia Supreme Court. In her claim, Banfield alleges that the Nova Scotia RCMP was pressured to be sued by federal emergency preparedness minister Bill Blair and Nova Scotia attorney general Mark Furey “as she threatened to reveal mistakes made by the Nova Scotia RCMP in responding them in the events of April 18-19, 2020.” Banfield was charged on December 4, 2020 with supplying the gunman with ammunition. On July 23, 2022, the Nova Scotia Prosecutor’s Office announced that the charge against Banfield had been dropped after she completed restorative justice. “As a result of this malicious prosecution, [Banfield] has suffered significant losses for which it claims general and special compensations,” the announcement states. Banfield alleges that the Nova Scotia RCMP “were negligent during their investigation” and failed to advise her of her right to counsel throughout her recorded statements on April 19, 2020. According to the statement of claim, Banfield got an attorney who spoke with Staff Sgt. Greg Vardy and was “assured” he was being interviewed “solely as a victim”. “However, neither Captain Vardy nor any member of the RCMP informed [Banfield] of her right to counsel at her next interviews on April 20, April 28, or June 28, 2020, not before recorded representation held in late October 2020,” the statement of claim said. “As a result of this negligence, [Banfield] was wrongly accused”. Banfield claims the RCMP and the Nova Scotia Prosecutor’s Office should never have charged her. “These charges were unlawful, due to documented circumstances of coercive control and life-threatening violence throughout their common law relationship,” the statement of claim said. Nova Scotia RCMP said Banfield’s civil claim has not yet been served. “With this in mind, we will not respond to allegations of such allegations,” the force told CBC News in an email. Nova Scotia Justice Minister Brad Jones told CBC News Thursday afternoon that his department has not yet seen the lawsuit and cannot comment.
