CIVIL LIBERTIES GROUP SUPPORTS SUIT AGAINST GROW-OP INSPECTIONS

The B.C. Civil Liberties Association announced Tuesday that it will
support a class-action lawsuit against Mission over residential
inspections for marijuana grow-op operations.

The district of Mission's controversial Controlled Substances Property
Bylaw has resulted in homeowners being charged with violations of the
bylaw, even though no marijuana grow operation was found in their residence.

"We have had dozens of complaints," said Micheal Vonn, policy director
of the BCCLA. "The process is fundamentally unfair."

Mission suspended the bylaw last January after a number of complaints
from residents who were hit with hefty fines but did not have grow
operations in their homes.

Resident Len Gratto, for example, was billed $5,200 for an inspection
that found he was growing flowers and cucumbers in the basement of his
Mission home.

Stacy Gowanlock was slapped with a $5,200 fee after his house was
inspected in 2009. He is part of the class-action suit expected to be
filed this week by lawyer Alexander Markham-Zantvoort.