ST. JOHN’S — Victims of moose-vehicle accidents who want to sue Newfoundland and Labrador can proceed with a landmark class-action lawsuit.

Justice Richard LeBlanc told the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador he supports certification of the case.

Ches Crosbie, the lawyer for the victims, claims the province has negligently failed to manage a moose population that is a public nuisance. He’s calling for unspecified compensation, moose fencing, a cull of the herd and other measures to reduce an estimated 800 collisions or close calls last year alone.

Justice Minister Felix Collins said he sympathizes with victims and their families, but the province will defend itself in court.

“There’s no doubt that these families have reason to be upset,” he said in an interview. “We want to express our condolences to those people. With respect to the legal proceedings, these have to take their own course.”

The province has not yet filed a statement of defense.

Adult moose weigh between 360 to 450 kilograms — 800 to 1,000 pounds — and were brought to the island despite having “no natural predator (other than black bears which prey on very young calves),” says the statement of claim.