Lawyers are using words such as biased, intimidating and misleading to describe the City of Windsor and the Town of Tecumseh's opt-out campaign.
The campaign was launched earlier this month as a way for the city and town to urge community organizations to opt out of a class-action lawsuit surrounding bingo licencing fees.
On Monday, lawyers representing dozens of charities in the suit asked a Windsor judge to order the defendants to stop the campaign.
The lawyer from Lerners LLP in London was in Windsor to argue that the defendants actions are unlawful.
"We are here to ask your Honour to intervene and stop the damage," said Peter Kryworuk, the plaintiffs' lawyer.
Kryworuk claims many class members would have found out about the lawsuit from the defendants first, which violated the court ordered notice of delivery.
"Delivery of notice is made by class council. That's who is appointed to deliver," said Kevin Ross, another lawyer representing plaintiffs.
They claim messages from the municipalities politicizes the issue.
"We say this is a form of intimidation and coercion - either you're with us or against us," Ross said.
But the lawyer representing the city and town argued there's nothing wrong with the opt-out campaign and it should be allowed to continue.
He called the messages "legitimate, even handed, even tempered. They are real. They are true," said Scott Hutchinson, the defendants' lawyer
Hutchinson repeatedly stated: "There is absolutely zero coercive conduct here."
Justice Patterson, who is hearing the case, said he will make a decision as soon as possible.
