Three former councillors of Lantzville are seeking the dismissal of a libel suit that was launched against them by three members of the current council.
Jennifer Millbank, Graham Savage and Dave Scott filed a response to the civil suit in B.C. Supreme Court on May 18.
They submit that: “This action is without merit, as the words complained of were on matters of public interest, were true, fair comment and protected by qualified privilege, and as the plaintiffs have suffered no damage.”
No claims have been proven in court.
Lantzville, which has about 3,800 people, is about 17 kilometres north of Nanaimo.
The case has its roots in a rift that developed on Lantzville council after the 2014 municipal election. As tensions increased, four of the seven members on council resigned in spring 2015. One of those councillors, Rod Negrave, died last year.
The three council members who did not resign initiated the lawsuit on March 24.
Mayor Colin Haime and councillors Denise Haime and John Coulson allege the councillors who resigned acted inappropriately while carrying out their roles as public officials.
The three that are being sued said in their statement that they deny allegations that they engaged in a public campaign to discredit and undermine the plaintiffs. Issues include emails, memorandum, and how council members dealt with staff.
