The lawsuit against Eddie Maurice has been dropped.

Maurice and Ryan Watson appeared in Calgary court today in relation to the $100,000 lawsuit filed by Watson in September.

"What happened today in court was: we won," said Maurice's lawyer Scott Chimuk. "The allegations against Mr. Maurice were dropped. There is no civil suit. There is no lawsuit. It is over."

Maurice said after the appearance he's grateful for the support his family has received over the past few years.

"We couldn't have done this without the support of our family, our community. Everyone who stood behind us, that was out at the rallies, that has supported us through this lawsuit," he said.

Maurice says the case has changed him. He looks over his shoulder, double-checking vehicles that travel past their homes. He says he doesn't see being able to move on with how life was before the incident in 2018.

"You can not fully go back, for myself, for how life really was," he said. "I think a lot of good has come out of this. It has brought a lot of attention to rural crime across Canada. And I think for the long term anything that happens in rural crime, my name is second behind it."

Maurice's wife Jessica agreed that the past two years have changed them.

"This has really changed us as people. We've become more comfortable in the media. We've been advocating for change provincially and federally. This really woke us up to the power that an individual can have on society, on laws, on the government."

Eddie and Jessica agreed that they hope they inspire others to stand up for their rights.

Chimuk says Watson agreed to drop the case and walk away. 

"Frankly, this case should never have been brought in the first instance. This case, in my view, was absolutely outrageous. The fact that a private citizen that's defending their family in their home was sued by a convicted criminal with respect to injuries that criminal allegedly incurred is absolutely outrageous."

He also credited the UCP government's Bill 27 as helping to strike down the lawsuit against Maurice.

"Bill 27 made sweeping changes with respect to trespassing in rural communities. It was absolutely key in my view, insofar as what it basically said is if the innocent victim is not convicted of a criminal offense there can be no criminal action."

Watson's lawsuit was filed as a means to cover damages he claimed he sustained after being struck by shrapnel after Maurice shot warning shots while Watson and an accomplice were caught rummaging through Maurice's vehicle in February 2018.

Maurice, who had filed a counter-suit against Watson for $150,000 in damages, has subsequently dropped his counter-claim.

Chimuk said the Maurice's could have continued with their claim, but chose to walk away in an attempt to move on with their lives. 

"(This case was) an affront to justice," Chimuk said "And I'm glad to see justice was done today."

The Maurice's say they're now looking forward to a trip to Disneyland with their kids.

 

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