A city councillor in Kamloops, British Columbia, has recently been awarded damages in what she describes as a groundbreaking legal victory against the city’s mayor. Councilor Katie Neustaeter announced outside the Kamloops Law Courts that the B.C. Supreme Court had granted her $5,000 in damages along with full court costs in relation to a defamation lawsuit brought forth by Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson.
The lawsuit, filed by the mayor in June 2023, accused Neustaeter of defaming him through internal council emails and a public statement she made on behalf of the city council during a news conference in March 2023. Neustaeter asserted that the lawsuit was not about the money but about sending a clear message to deter such behavior in the future.
The defamation suit was dismissed earlier this year by Supreme Court Justice Jacqueline Hughes under British Columbia’s Protection of Public Participation Act, also known as anti-SLAPP legislation. The act aims to safeguard political speech and public engagement.
In her statement, Neustaeter highlighted the importance of protecting elected officials’ family members from being exploited for political gain. The court ruling indicated that the mayor’s lawsuit was politically motivated against Neustaeter, who had raised concerns about his interactions with her father, former B.C. MLA Kevin Krueger, who is suffering from dementia.
Neustaeter emphasized that this case marked the first instance in British Columbia where damages were awarded in an anti-SLAPP lawsuit involving elected officials. She mentioned that the court’s decision to hold Hamer-Jackson responsible for costs meant that taxpayers would not bear the financial burden, which Neustaeter estimated to be substantial.
Mayor Hamer-Jackson expressed disbelief at the court ruling and stated his intention to appeal. Both the mayor and Neustaeter are candidates for re-election in the upcoming municipal election on October 17.