Court favours rancher over energy giant

A southern Alberta ranching family won another victory in its fight with Imperial Oil after Alberta's highest court dismissed an appeal launched by the energy giant. Bragg Creek rancher Agnes Ball filed the lawsuit in 2004, arguing a sour gas leak in an Imperial Oil pipeline had contaminated a patch of her family's land and sickened some of their cattle. Her family won the initial ruling -- a decision Imperial Oil appealed last April. That appeal was dismissed in a 2-1 decision in favour of the ranching family this week. "We're relieved, we're happy that the appeal was dismissed," said Susan Graham, Ball's daughter. She said it's been a frustrating few years, but also empowering as the family successfully faced off with the major energy company. It's too soon to say whether Imperial Oil will try to take the case to the Supreme Court of Canada, said spokesman Pius Rolheiser...more