july 12th, 2007 › the trial of michael white › deadmonton 2005 › deadmonton › edmonton

Liana White, 29, was stabbed to death July 12th, 2005.

Michael White, 29, was found guilty of second-degree murder and offering an indignity to a dead body. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison.

<< april 17th, 2007 | the michael white trial

According to a statement of claim, the Public Trustee for Alberta launched a $727,000 lawsuit on behalf of Liana Clarissa White's estate, the couple's five-year-old daughter Ashley and Liana's mother Maureen Kelly.

News of the lawsuit was not made public until August 8th, 2007 when the Edmonton Sun broke the story.

The statement of claim, filed two years to the day after her mother's reported disappearance, asserts that Ashley has been deprived of the maintenance, support, care, affection, guidance, assistance and the normal expectation of continued care and support.

In addition Ashley has been deprived of the example, encouragement, training, comfort, care, upbringing and education her mother would have provided her and has suffered loss and damage, the claim stated.

The lawsuit is seeking $500,000 in damages for the loss of financial dependency, loss of household services and loss of contribution to post-secondary education which Liana White would otherwise have provided to Ashley.

The lawsuit is also seeking bereavement damages of $45,000 for Ashley and $75,000 for Kelly, $7,790 in funeral expenses and $100,000 for fees for grief counselling.

A statement of defence has not been filed. Statements of claim and statements of defence contain allegations which have not been proven in court.

Ashley was three years old at the time of Liana's murder.

If the lawsuit is successful, the Alberta government would collect from White in the same way that any creditor would collect from a debtor.

Alberta Justice spokesman David Dear said the government would take whatever steps it deemed necessary to collect on the debt.

Michael White's only asset of note is the family home and its contents at 227 Warwick Crescent in Edmonton. At right is the master bedroom where police allege Liana was stabbed.

On August 12th, 2007 630 CHED's Byron Christopher interviewed Michael White at the Edmonton Institution where the convicted man is serving his 17-year sentence.

White said he had not been served with any documents and only heard of the lawsuit when a prison guard read him newspaper articles reporting the statement of claim.

Marilyn Burns, the civil lawyer hired by White's parents (Carol and Larry Forbes of Ontario), said the first she heard of the lawsuit was when Christopher called her. Burns said the trustee's office has a year to serve the papers.

White said he intended to contest the lawsuit, but stated it was not because he minded giving any money to his daughter.

What White does mind is the timing of the lawsuit as he felt it would hurt his chances for the appeal he launched January 11th, 2007.

White has always maintained he didn't murder his wife. In the CHED interview, White said the lawsuit may allow him to address evidence that was not brought out in court.

The case continues.

deadmonton - the trial of michael white - july 12th, 2007