Kamloops mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson will respond in court to new claims about his behaviour filed by coun. Katie Neustaeter on July 24, 2023.
Image Credit: YOUTUBE/City of Kamloops and SUBMITTED/Reid Hamer-Jackson
July 25, 2023 - 3:28 PM
Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson's lawyer doesn't expect the legal battle between his client and a city councillor will be resolved without a trial.
The mayor launched a defamation suit against councillor Katie Neustaeter in June. He said a joint statement she read aloud earlier this year backed by all other councillors was intended to damage his reputation in the public eye.
In response to allegations that his behaviour is disrespectful and disruptive, Hamer-Jackson filed a claim in BC Supreme Court. Neustaeter filed her response yesterday, July 24.
"The chance of that sort of resolution ranks, in my view, between slim and none," Hamer-Jackson's lawyer, Dave McMillan, said when asked whether they may settle out of court.
READ MORE: Kamloops mayor accused of using city councillor's family as leverage
McMillan wouldn't comment on Neustaeter's court claims in an interview, instead stating he and Hamer-Jackson will respond in court.
"I will be commenting a great deal more in the next while, but I'll be doing so in court documents," McMillan said.
The March joint statement did not include any details of Hamer-Jackson's alleged behaviour behind closed doors, but Neustaeter's response now sheds more light on the incidents that prompted their statement.
"While we as councillors have been subjected to repeated disrespect, violations of personal and professional boundaries, belittling and constantly disruptive behaviour by the mayor, we've been willing to absorb the impact in service to our community," Neustaeter said during the press conference to release the joint statement.
She claimed Hamer-Jackson wanted her father, former MLA Kevin Krueger, to get her support in the mayor's attempts to fire an unnamed staff member, according to court documents.
READ MORE: Kamloops mayor launches defamation suit against councillor
She also said Hamer-Jackson tried to hire "political allies" to City staff positions, while refusing to support the hiring of people who were not his allies.
Among the several claims, Hamer-Jackson gave confidential information from closed council meetings to people who were not councillors or staff.
"Like any claims that are made in lawsuits, they'll be dealt with in evidence and the results will become known in due course," the mayor's lawyer said. "Given the nature of the claims that you read, they will be dealt with in a very serious manner in court. Claims like those will not go unanswered, believe me."
It's not clear how long it may take before they reach a resolution, but it's sure to hang over city hall as the pair continue with City business at a council meeting today, July 25.
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