A Saskatchewan woman has won a precedent-setting lawsuit against the drug dealer who sold her a near-fatal overdose of crystal meth.

Sandy Bergen, 23, accused her former kindergarten classmate, Clinton Davey, of selling her the drug in the town of Biggar, Sask., in 2004. In her statement of claim, she said Mr. Davey knew the drug was highly addictive and harmful, and sold it not only for profit, but to intentionally inflict physical and mental suffering.

She also named as a defendant the unknown John Doe who supplied Mr. Davey with his drugs. When Mr. Davey refused to reveal the name of his supplier during the pretrial discovery process - and faced the threat of a contempt-of-court charge - he consented to have his statement of defence struck, effectively admitting his liability and handing victory to Ms. Bergen.

Another hearing will be held to determine how much she will be awarded in damages.