The conductor as well as the owner of the train that derailed, exploded and killed 47 people in Lac-Megantic in 2013 have been added as respondents in a class action lawsuit.
Thomas Harding, Montreal Maine and Atlantic Canada Co. (MMAC), and Canadian Pacific Railway are now the three official defendants, according to a Oct. 24 ruling by Quebec Superior Court Justice Martin Bureau.
About 25 other companies and individuals were once accused in the class action but they reached a deal with victims and creditors after agreeing to contribute $450 million to a settlement fund.
Joel Rochon, a Toronto-based lawyer for victims in the suit, told The Canadian Press that, of the three respondents, "Obviously our big target here is Canadian Pacific for their role in this catastrophe."
MMAC is in bankruptcy protection, has no employees and all of its assets were sold in 2014 to help pay victims and creditors.
Harding, along with two other former MMAC employees, faces 47 charges of criminal negligence causing death in the derailment.
"MMAC has no assets so they are effectively insolvent," Rochon said. "Harding obviously doesn't have the resources to compensate the victims here."
They were added to the lawsuit so the court can receive evidence and documents associated with their involvement in the derailment, Rochon said.
"(These two respondents) were the last piece of the puzzle and we believe they will provide the court with the entire perspective that is needed," he said.
Harding's lawyer was not immediately available for comment.