• Edrik, a chicken farmer, owns farm land close to a muskeg swamp in Northern Ontario. He uses a well pump to provide water to his chickens. Recently many of his chickens have been sick, born with deformities, or have died. Edrik has been frantically trying to figure out why. When he sees a man pouring what appears to be chemicals with the name "Smiths" on the containers into the swamp he calls the police and an investigation begins.
• A month later the CEO of Smiths manufacturing was served with notice of a civil claim against the company on behalf of the plaintiff, Edrik. Smiths is also facing charges for illegally dumping contaminants into the muskeg swamp and other violations under the provincial Environmental Protection Act.
• Which case will most likely be heard first? Why do you think this is usually the order of trials/ proceedings? What's the burden of proof in the two procedures?