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.