B.C. Conservative Party leader John Cummins doesn't have much to say, at least publicly, about a lawsuit filed against the party this past week by three former members who want back in.

Ariane Eckardt and John Crocock of Burnaby, and Surrey naturopath Allison Patton, filed their suit in B.C. Supreme Court Vancouver last Wednesday hoping a judge will order the party to reinstate them.

Party infighting - the dissidents had called on Cummins to resign - resulted in their expulsion earlier this fall.

Patton was president of the Surrey-White Rock BC Conservative Constituency Association.

"Essentially it's before the courts. I just can't comment publicly," Cummins said of the lawsuit.

The ousted members say they were booted out of the party without proper disciplinary hearings being held first, according to the party's bylaws.

tzytaruk@thenownewspaper.com