Granville Street business owners in Vancouver, B.C., are considering their legal options, following Wednesday's Canada Line lawsuit decision.
Storeowner Susan Heyes sued the government agencies and construction company responsible for the Canada Line, saying she lost $900,000 when Cambie Street construction kept customers from her store.
On Wednesday, a judge awarded her $600,000. Now, business owners in downtown Vancouver say they are experiencing similar trouble.
"It's definitely really hindered our business," John Walters, assistant manager of the Helly Hansen store said Thursday. "We've seen a drastic drop in sales."
"People have definitely lost their shirts and their livelihoods and their businesses because they couldn't stay afloat. Who is responsible?" Walters said.
Brian Bonney of the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses says the decision may lead to more lawsuits.
"That makes them nervous," Bonney said. "Now what we do is we have to start thinking about going forward."
Walters says he had never considered a lawsuit - until now.
"I think if it happened once you're gonna see it happen a lot. So if one person should do it, everyone should probably stand up and do the same thing."
The West Broadway Business Association's Donna Dobo is hoping the decision may pressure the province to invite small businesses to negotiate the terms of the next big rapid transit line, along Broadway.
"They have to realize it's far cheaper to negotiate in good faith in advance so the businesses and the residents can survive the construction, than it is to pay off 100 lawsuits afterwards," Dobo said.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Shannon Paterson
