Allegations of negligence are at the centre of a Flin Flon man’s $36-million lawsuit against the federal government.
Ralph Laliberty, 19, claims the military failed to treat an ankle injury he suffered during an army cadet outing in southern Manitoba, the Winnipeg Free Press reported yesterday.
Laliberty told the newspaper he rolled his ankle in a rut while on a hike in Whiteshell Provincial Park in 2011. Although he was in a lot of pain, he said the supervising officer told him he had to keep walking so they could make it to the bus on time.
Back at base camp, he said the officer in charge wrapped his ankle in a tensor bandage and declared he didn’t need further medical attention.
But when Laliberty attended the Flin Flon ER the next day, he was diagnosed with a severe sprain, put in a cast and told to use crutches for five weeks, the Free Press reported.
Laliberty was later diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome, a chronic pain condition. He told the newspaper he is only able to work part-time and can’t afford proper treatment.
A Department of National Defence spokesman had no comment for the Free Press, saying the matter is before the courts.
