Kamloops Mayor Files Second Defamation Lawsuit Against Councillor Over 'Creepy' Behaviour Accusations.

Kamloops, B.C. Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson has filed a second defamation lawsuit against councillor Katie Neustaeter over an email she sent last year, calling his behavior "creepy." The mayor claims Neustaeter damaged his reputation with the accusation and refused to retract it. This is the second lawsuit against Neustaeter since 2023, with a hearing scheduled for September 22 to address the first lawsuit filed by the mayor.

Kamloops, B.C. Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson has filed a second defamation lawsuit against Councillor Katie Neustaeter, following an email she sent last year describing his behavior as "creepy." The mayor claims that Neustaeter's accusations have damaged his reputation and that she refused to retract them. This is the second lawsuit against Neustaeter since 2023, with a hearing scheduled for September 22 to address the first lawsuit filed by the mayor [1].

The lawsuit, filed on July 31, alleges that Neustaeter's email to city administrators and council members made "sordid and scandalous accusations" against Hamer-Jackson. The mayor claims that Neustaeter accused him of monitoring her bathroom breaks, which he denies. Neustaeter, however, maintains that her email was a response to Hamer-Jackson's questioning of her use of a restricted washroom area [2].

Hamer-Jackson's lawsuit comes amidst a series of public and legal disputes with Neustaeter and other city councillors. In 2023, Neustaeter and other councillors accused Hamer-Jackson of crossing personal and professional boundaries. The mayor has also faced controversy for filing a police complaint against a journalist who he claimed assaulted him at a pub, and for a failed attempt to obtain a forensic financial audit of the city [1].

Neustaeter's lawyer, Daniel Reid, has stated that he plans to address the latest lawsuit at the September 22 hearing. The hearing will also consider dismissing the mayor's first lawsuit against Neustaeter, which was filed over two years ago. Neustaeter's legal fees for the first lawsuit are currently covered by taxpayer funds, and council will hold a vote on whether to indemnify her for the second case [2].

The ongoing legal battles in Kamloops have drawn significant attention and raised questions about the city's governance and the behavior of its elected officials. As the legal proceedings continue, investors and financial professionals will be watching closely to see how these disputes impact the city's reputation and future development.

References:
[1] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/kamloops-mayor-reid-hamer-jackson-katie-neustaeter-1.7601915
[2] https://infonews.ca/news/7301065/kamloops-mayor-files-second-lawsuit-against-councillor/