In a daring heist at Toronto’s main airport last April, culprits made off with nearly C$24 million ($17 million) in gold bars and cash, leaving investigators puzzled for over six months.
Now, a bitter legal dispute has unfolded between the airline, Air Canada, and the armored car company, Brink’s, each blaming the other for the audacious theft—one of Canada’s largest.
Brink’s, in an October legal filing, alleges that lax security measures by Air Canada allowed thieves to snatch the valuable cargo a mere 42 minutes after its arrival at Pearson International Airport.
In response, Air Canada contends that Brink’s failed to declare the value of the shipment, neglected to secure insurance, and refused to pay for additional security measures. Air Canada argues that Brink’s “elected for its own reasons not to declare a value for carriage and … not to insure these shipments.”
Both companies have invoked the Montreal Convention, regulating international shipments and setting compensation limits for cargo loss. Air Canada asserts that the convention caps its liability, deeming the damage claims “excessive” and “too remote” for a loss not caused by the airline.
Contrarily, Brink’s argues that there is no compensation limit under the convention and asserts it paid extra for the shipment. Brink’s maintains it clearly marked the waybills, alerting Air Canada staff to the cargo’s contents, and requested “special supervision” of the crates.
None of the claims in the lawsuit have been tested in the federal court, where the case is being heard.
