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A woman from the RM of Bulcher, who is currently serving a six-year sentence for causing a fatal highway crash, is suing an insurance company for millions over a house fire.
Brittany Barry and her husband Greg Barry filed the lawsuit against Primmum Insurance Company (also known as TD), claiming the company failed to properly cover the costs of a blaze at the couple’s Skyview Estates home.
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According to court documents, a fire on Jan. 12, 2024 started in the engine of a vehicle parked in the garage and spread, causing significant damage to the house, its contents, landscaping and vehicles.
“As a result of the Loss, the insured dwelling must be demolished and rebuilt and no aspect of the building or contents is salvageable,” the statement of claim read.
The claim said the couple reported the loss to their insurance company, submitted proof and stated the claim fell within their policy’s coverage. The couple alleged TD failed to provide additional living expenses, neglected environmental work tied to the demolition and ignored key information and documents submitted in their claim.
“TD made decisions in an arbitrary callous and high-handed manner,” the statement of claim read.
The lawsuit claimed the couple continues to suffer due to the damages. They are asking for $4.5 million for breach of contract, as well as coverage of legal costs.
A statement of defence filed by TD on March 11 denied the allegations, asking for the claim to be dismissed with costs.
TD said the company gathered quotes from contractors in September of 2024 and estimated it would cost around $1.49 million for reconstruction.
“As of the date of the Statement of Defence, the Plaintiffs have refused and/or neglected to enter into a contract to rebuild the insured Premises despite the reasonable opportunity to do so,” the statement of defence said.
The insurance company stated it remains ready and willing to pay the difference between the actual cash value and the rebuild costs, according to the policy.
The allegations in the lawsuit have not yet been tested in court.
Barry serving six-year sentence for fatal highway crash
In March of 2025, Brittany Barry was handed a six-year sentence after pleading guilty to charges of operation of a vehicle with a blood-alcohol concentration of 80 mg or over causing death and operation of a vehicle with a blood-alcohol concentration of 80 mg or over causing bodily harm.
On Oct. 19, 2024 she drove a Chevrolet Avalanche truck with her two children inside in the wrong direction on Highway 11 near Dundurn, colliding with a Mazda CX-3 SUV. Two women in the SUV, 50-year old Laura Hannah and her daughter, 20-year old Jamie Hannah, both from Lake Isle, Alta., were declared dead at the scene.
Barry’s two children were taken to the hospital with “non life threatening injuries,” police said.
According to the agreed statement of facts presented in court, the officers could smell alcohol on Barry’s breath following the crash.
Samples taken at a police station revealed that “at 5 minutes after midnight, her sample was 210 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of Blood.”
