$8M Wayland Group Securities Settlement, If you held WEED or Maricann stock from Dec. 2017 to Aug. 2019, file Claim by August 20, 2026

If you bought shares in Wayland Group Corp. or Maricann Group Corp. between December 13, 2017 and August 2, 2019 — and held them through the company’s collapse — a court-approved CAD $8 million settlement is now open for claims. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice approved the settlement on March 19, 2026. You must file your claim by August 20, 2026. Separately, the court issued a $53 million default judgment against former CEO Benjamin Ward, who was not part of the settlement.

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	CAD $8,000,000
Claim Deadline	August 20, 2026
Who Qualifies	Anyone who purchased or acquired Wayland Group Corp. or Maricann Group Corp. common shares, units, or warrants on or after December 13, 2017, and held some or all of those securities as of close of trading on August 2, 2019
Payout Per Person	TBD (pro rata based on plan of allocation)
Proof Required	Yes — trading records required
Settlement Status	Finally approved — March 19, 2026
Court	Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Approving Judge	Honourable Justice Edward Morgan
Class Counsel / Administrator	Berger Montague (Canada) PC
Claims Website	nuvoclaims.com
Administrator Phone	647-576-7840
Official Case Website	bergermontague.com/cases/wayland-group-corp
Counsel Fees Approved	CAD $2,400,000 plus disbursements and taxes

Where things stand right now:

• The Ontario Superior Court granted final approval of the CAD $8 million settlement on March 19, 2026, covering three related class actions brought against Wayland’s former officers, directors, and its underwriters. The settlement does not include former CEO Benjamin Ward.
• On March 26, 2026, the same court issued a separate $53 million default judgment against Ward — a judgment Class Counsel is now working to enforce. Ward’s proceedings continue under a separate case page at bergermontague.com/cases/benjamin-ward-wayland-group-corp.
• Class Members must submit a completed Claim Form by August 20, 2026 or receive nothing from the settlement.

Wayland Promised Investors a Cannabis Expansion — Then Its Auditor Refused to Sign Off

Wayland Group Corp. — formerly known as Maricann Group Corp. — was a licensed cannabis producer operating in Ontario during the height of Canada’s marijuana legalization boom. Its main growing facility was located in Langton, Ontario. Between late 2017 and mid-2019, Wayland aggressively marketed the expansion of that facility to investors, claiming it would dramatically increase cannabis production and revenue beginning in 2019.

The three class actions all involve allegations that, between mid-December 2017 and early August 2019, Wayland Group misled investors about the status of expansion plans at its cannabis facility to induce investors to buy its stock. The complaints allege that Wayland, its officers, and its underwriters made misrepresentations — or failed to disclose material changes — about the company’s production capacity, financial status, and operations.

Investors allege that in a series of storm-warning type public corrections, Wayland released information about its business, operations, and finances that conflicted with its prior statements. MNP LLP, the auditor, agreed and refused to sign off on Wayland’s fiscal 2018 financial statements. On May 4, 2019, Ontario’s securities regulator issued a halt-trading order on Wayland’s securities. The stock never traded again. Investors holding the shares suffered a complete loss. Wayland filed for creditor protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act on December 2, 2019.

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Three Lawsuits, One Settlement — Understanding Who Was Sued and Why

The settlement resolves three separate but related class actions, all filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and all represented by Berger Montague (Canada) PC as Class Counsel:

The Wayland Action (CV-21-00665194-00CP) was filed by Marco Stajic, Mordecai Bobrowsky, and Kyle Yamamura against Wayland Group Corp. and its former CEO Benjamin Ward. This action targets the company itself and its former executives for alleged misrepresentations made directly in the public market.

The Stajic Action (CV-22-00687490-00CP) was filed by Marko Stajic against former officers Scott Langille, Gerhard Müller, Paul Pathak, Eric Silver, Michael Stein, and John Does 1-3. Paul Pathak is also the founder of Canaccord Genuity G Ventures Corp., and Benjamin Ward has been charged with securities fraud by the Ontario Securities Commission relating to his prior company. This action targets the individual executives personally for their alleged roles in the misrepresentations.

The Bordeleau-Tassile Action (CV-23-00693650-00CP) was filed by Michaël Bordeleau-Tassile against Canaccord Genuity Corp. and GMP Securities L.P. (now RF Securities Clearing LP). Canaccord Genuity Corp. served as one of Wayland’s investment banks that sold its securities. This action targets the underwriters — the financial institutions that brought Wayland’s securities to market — for their alleged role in selling securities containing misrepresentations to investors.

All three defendants deny the allegations and deny any wrongdoing or liability. The settlement was reached without any admission of fault.

You Held Wayland or Maricann Stock When It Collapsed — Here Is What Qualifies You

You may be a Class Member entitled to file a claim if:

• You purchased or otherwise acquired common shares, units, or warrants of Wayland Group Corp. or Maricann Group Corp. on or after December 13, 2017.
• You still held some or all of those securities as of the close of trading on August 2, 2019 — the date of the final corrective disclosure.
• You suffered financial losses as a result of holding those securities through the company’s corrective disclosures and the subsequent trading halt.
• You are not an Excluded Person as defined in the Settlement Agreement (which includes the defendants, their families, and certain related parties).

The class is global in scope. This Notice is directed to all persons and entities, other than Excluded Persons, wherever they may reside or be domiciled. Investors who held these securities outside Canada — including international shareholders who purchased Maricann or Wayland securities on Canadian exchanges — may be eligible to file a claim.

What Happened to the CEO Who Wasn’t Part of the Settlement

Former CEO Benjamin Ward is not among the settling defendants. His case proceeded separately, and the outcome was significant. On March 26, 2026, the court issued a decision granting an order for leave to proceed pursuant to Part XXIII.1 of the Securities Act, certification as a class proceeding, and a default judgment against Ward for an amount of $53 million.

A default judgment means Ward did not defend the action and the court ruled against him. Enforcing a $53 million default judgment is a separate legal process from the settlement distribution — Class Counsel is actively working on enforcement. Any recovery from Ward, if and when obtained, would be distributed separately. For updates on the Ward proceedings, visit bergermontague.com/cases/benjamin-ward-wayland-group-corp.

How to File Your Wayland Settlement Claim Before August 20, 2026

Step 1 — Visit the official claims portal at nuvoclaims.com or go directly to bergermontague.com/cases/wayland-group-corp to download the Claim Form.

Step 2 — Gather your trading records showing your purchases and holdings of Wayland Group Corp. or Maricann Group Corp. common shares, units, or warrants during the class period (December 13, 2017 – August 2, 2019). Brokerage statements, trade confirmations, and account summaries all qualify.

Step 3 — Complete the Claim Form accurately, entering your personal information and your full transaction history for the covered securities.

Step 4 — Submit your Claim Form online through nuvoclaims.com or contact the Administrator at 647-576-7840 for mailing instructions. Your submission must be received by the Administrator no later than August 20, 2026.

Step 5 — Save your submission confirmation. The Administrator will review your claim, determine eligibility, and contact you if additional information is needed.

Estimated time to complete: 15–30 minutes if you have your brokerage records ready.

Questions? Call 647-576-7840 or email [email protected].

From Langton Facility Promises to $53 Million Judgment — The Full Timeline

Milestone	Date
Class period begins — Maricann/Wayland begins making alleged misrepresentations	December 13, 2017
Wayland Group Corp. name adopted (formerly Maricann)	2018
Auditor MNP LLP refuses to sign fiscal 2018 financial statements	2019
Ontario Securities Commission issues halt-trading order on Wayland shares	May 4, 2019
First corrective disclosure	April 23, 2019
Additional corrective disclosures	May 6, 2019
Final corrective disclosure / class period ends	August 2, 2019
Wayland files for CCAA creditor protection	December 2, 2019
Wayland Action filed (Stajic, Bobrowsky, Yamamura v. Wayland and Ward)	2021
Stajic Action filed (v. former officers)	2022
Bordeleau-Tassile Action filed (v. Canaccord and GMP)	2023
Cases certified as class actions	February 2026
Settlement approval hearing	March 9, 2026
Settlement finally approved (Justice Morgan)	March 19, 2026
$53 million default judgment entered against Ward	March 26, 2026
Claim filing deadline	August 20, 2026
Expected distribution to Class Members	TBD

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer to file a claim? 

No. Any eligible Class Member can file a claim directly through nuvoclaims.com without hiring a personal lawyer. Class Counsel — Berger Montague (Canada) PC — has been appointed by the court and already represents the entire class. Filing is free and there is no obligation to participate beyond submitting your Claim Form.

Is this settlement legitimate?

 Yes. The CAD $8 million settlement was approved by the Honourable Justice Edward Morgan of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on March 19, 2026. Berger Montague (Canada) PC serves as both Class Counsel and Court-appointed Administrator. This is a court-supervised proceeding under Ontario’s Class Proceedings Act. Always file only through nuvoclaims.com or the official case page.

When will I receive my payment? 

No payment date has been confirmed. The Administrator must first process all claims submitted by August 20, 2026, determine eligibility, and then distribute the Net Settlement Amount — which is the CAD $8 million minus the approved counsel fees of CAD $2.4 million, disbursements, administrator expenses, and taxes. That process typically takes several months after the claim deadline closes.

I live outside Canada — can I still file a claim? 

Yes. The settlement class is global and covers all persons and entities wherever they reside or are domiciled, as long as they purchased Wayland or Maricann securities during the class period and held them through August 2, 2019. International investors should file through the online claims portal at nuvoclaims.com.

Will my settlement payment affect my taxes? 

Possibly. Tax treatment of securities class action settlement payments varies depending on your country of residence, your investment account type (registered vs. non-registered), and how the payment is classified. Canadian residents should consult the Canada Revenue Agency’s guidance on settlement proceeds and speak with a qualified tax professional before filing their tax return in the year they receive payment.

What is the $53 million judgment against Benjamin Ward — and will I see any of that money? 

On March 26, 2026, the court entered a $53 million default judgment against former CEO Benjamin Ward. This is separate from the $8 million settlement with the other defendants. If Class Counsel successfully enforces that judgment and recovers funds from Ward, those funds would be distributed to class members under a separate process. There is no guarantee of any recovery from Ward at this stage, as enforcing a default judgment depends on whether assets can be identified and seized.

My shares were in a registered account (RRSP, TFSA) — can I still claim?

 Yes. The settlement does not restrict claims based on account type. Shares held in RRSPs, TFSAs, RRIFs, or non-registered accounts all qualify, provided you meet the class definition — purchased on or after December 13, 2017 and held some or all as of August 2, 2019.

Sources

• Official Case Page and Claim Form: bergermontague.com/cases/wayland-group-corp
• Online Claims Portal: nuvoclaims.com
• Notice of Settlement Approval (Short Form), PR Newswire, April 2, 2026
• Notice of Certification, Leave to Proceed and Default Judgment (Ward), Cantech Letter, April 2, 2026
• Investment Executive, “Investor class actions certified to allow settlement,” February 8, 2026
• Berger Montague (Canada) PC case background: bergermontague.ca/cases/wayland-group-corp

Last Updated: April 2, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law, including the laws of Ontario and Canada. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney or legal professional in your jurisdiction.