OTTAWA — Former Supreme Court Justice Thomas Cromwell will mediate in lawsuits against the federal government of nine family members of Canadian diplomats who were in Cuba suffering from a mysterious illness.

This is another step in resolving some elements of a 2019 lawsuit in federal court filed by diplomats and relatives who mysteriously fell ill while stationed in Havana. The lawsuit, which now has 18 plaintiffs, is seeking millions of dollars in damages from the Canadian government.

Plaintiffs have reported health complaints since 2017, including headaches, memory loss, poor concentration, cognitive and visual problems, sensitivity to noise, dizziness, nausea, trouble sleeping, mood swings and nosebleeds.

In July 2021, Global Affairs Canada said 15 Canadians had been confirmed to have been diagnosed with “acquired brain injury.”

The parties have agreed to appoint ex-Judge Cromwell, who served eight years at the country’s highest court, as mediator in a session due to take place in late February or early March this year. This decision follows an instruction from the Federal Court of Justice from the beginning of October on how to proceed in this case.

Diplomats say the Canadian government has failed to protect them, withholding vital information and downplaying the seriousness of the risks. The government has denied wrongdoing and negligence.

Canadian and American investigations have been unable to pinpoint the cause of many of the ailments, with theories ranging from sonic attacks being aimed by an adversary to pesticide spraying.

Global Affairs Canada declined to answer specific questions about the proposed mediation.

Several US employees working in Cuba reported similar health problems, commonly referred to as “Havana Syndrome”. More recently, symptoms among US personnel have been reported in Washington, Austria and China, among other places.

In October of last year, Global Affairs Canada sent a message to all employees worldwide detailing the symptoms and how to report issues. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service have sent similar messages to their staff, according to the department.