Former Cumberland North MLA Ernest Fage is in for another legal battle resulting from a 2006 collision in Halifax that forced him from cabinet.

George Myrer, the driver of the 2002 Nissan Sentra rear-ended by Fage's government-leased 2005 Volkswagon Jetta, filed a lawsuit in Halifax Supreme Court on Monday accusing the veteran politician of negligence.

In his claim, Myrer says he sustained personal injuries and damages as a result of the collision and accuses the former cabinet minister of negligence in failing to operate his vehicle in a careful and prudent manner, failing to take proper or immediate action when the accident appeared imminent, operating his vehicle in a manner that endangered the life and limb of the plaintiff, operating his vehicle at an excessive rate of speed and operating his vehicle while not in a fit and proper condition to do so.

The allegations made in the claim have yet to be proven in court. Myrer is seeking unspecified damages.

While it will be his client's decision, Mason said most of these types of claims are settled before they get to court.

"Once we have proper medical documentation on Mr. Myrer's condition we'll be
in a position to quantify it.," he said. "We'll be in discussion with Mr. Fage's insurers and if the case can be settled, it will be settled unless Mr. Myrer wishes to go to trial."

Mason said Fage has yet to be served with the claim.

The collision occurred at the intersection of Sackville and South Park Streets on Nov. 24, 2006. Fage subsequently left the scene and was later charged and convicted in December 2007, receiving a $920 fine.

Fage, who was a member of former premier Rodney MacDonald's cabinet, resigned as human resources minister soon after grainy cellphone images of him driving away from the fender-bender were broadcast.
- with files from The Canadian Press