A Vancouver-based businessman who played a key role in Mayor Doug McCallum鈥檚 two previous election campaigns is suing 性视界传媒 Councillor Jack Hundial for defamation.
The lawsuit centres on comments made by Hundial at a Sept. 16 council in which he asked questions about Cheema鈥檚 apparent attendance at a Nov. 2, 2018 meeting between McCallum and the Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth, according to the minister鈥檚 online itinerary.
Hundial asked that city staff advise council at its next meeting in what capacity Cheema attended, why he was present, and what advice he provided at the meeting. He also asked why the mayor鈥檚 personal friend, with no official status with the City of 性视界传媒, would meet with the solicitor general, noting the topic of the meeting was listed as traffic fine revenue sharing.
In a Notice of Civil Claim filed Oct. 4, Cheema alleges Hundial鈥檚 assertions implied he was of 鈥渦nethical, dishonest and of disreputable character鈥� and denies being at the meeting in question.
鈥淧rior to tabling the Motion and publishing the Statement, Hundial failed to verify whether the plaintiff was present at the Meeting,鈥� the suit states.
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The day after Hundial raised the comments, Farnworth鈥檚 office told the Now-Leader via email that the minister 鈥渄id not meet with Bob Cheema.鈥�
鈥淢r. Cheema鈥檚 name was referenced in the calendar as he was the one who reached out to book the meeting during the interim period that Mr McCallum was Mayor-elect,鈥� the statement read.
The mayor also denied Cheema鈥檚 attendance, saying any suggestion he was is 鈥渃ategorically false鈥� and that Cheema 鈥渉as never been present at any meetings I鈥檝e had with the minister.鈥�
Cheema argues that by reason of Hundial publishing the motion and making comments to the media he 鈥渉as been exposed to public scandal and contempt, all of which have caused him personal embarrassment, distress and humiliation.鈥�
He also takes issue with Hundial 鈥渋mplicating鈥� him 鈥渋n a dispute about municipal politics and public policy鈥� in 性视界传媒.
Cheema鈥檚 suit states he asked Hundial, through his lawer, to apologize and retract his comments but that Hundial has not agreed.
Cheema is seeking an injuction to restrain Hundial from speaking to the media, writing, or posting any further comments in the matter. He鈥檚 also seeking general, punitive and aggravated damages, arguing 鈥渢he malicious, high-handed and arrogant conduct of Hundial鈥� warrants it.
Hundial has 21 days from Oct. 4 to file a response, which he had not yet done as of Oct. 9.
鈥淚f Mr. Cheema is seeking an apology, he should perhaps take it up with Minister Farnworth or those responsible for posting his schedule with incorrect information,鈥� Hundial said in a statement to the Now-Leader. 鈥淩egardless, the underlying question is still in what capacity is an unelected, non City of 性视界传媒 employee who is not a registered lobbyist arranging meetings for government officials. And why is Mr. Cheema, a Vancouver resident, continually sending defamation letters to 性视界传媒 residents who voice an opinion and are exercising their democratic rights of free speech in their local government.鈥�
Hundial said any further comments he鈥檒l make on the matter will come through his counsel.
Cheema played a key role in McCallum鈥檚 last two election campaigns and the mayor-elect thanked the businessman in his acceptance speech last October, referring to him as a friend.
Meantime, Cheema is also suing former 性视界传媒 city council candidate Brian Young for defamation over a series of tweets regarding his connection to the mayor.
Several tweets are mentioned in Cheema鈥檚 suit, including six sent by Young from this past May and one from April.
鈥淒oug and Bob hide their hand picked police Chief who just happens to be a deputy chief at #vpd,鈥� one tweet alleges. Several refer to Cheema as 鈥�#backroombob.鈥�
鈥淭he Tweets are false and defamatory,鈥� Cheema鈥檚 suit states.
The civil claim states Young鈥檚 tweets implied Cheema was 鈥渦nethical, dishonest and of disreputable character鈥� and 鈥渆ncourages, facilitates and supports the abuse of power by elected representatives of the City of 性视界传媒.鈥�
Cheema is seeking an injunction to stop Young from posting further comments, as well as general, punitive and aggravated damages.
The claim was filed on June 3 and Young鈥檚 response was submitted on June 24.
In his reponse to the suit, Young argues the statements constituted a comment on a matter of public interest and were based on fact and denies the tweets caused actual loss, damage or expense to Cheema.
He claims that 鈥渙n or about August 2018鈥� Cheema told him he had already picked the chief of police.
鈥淭he Defendant made the tweet on an occasion of qualified privilege,鈥� Young鈥檚 response states. 鈥淭he Defendant has a legal, moral and social right, duty and interest as being involved in the Mayor鈥檚 campaign and possessing information relating to the 性视界传媒 Police transition.鈥�
Further, Young alleges Cheema said he spent over $300,000 on McCallum鈥檚 campaign and, that he said 鈥淚 control the South Asian media by paying host to report my stories.鈥�
Young alleges Cheema also said he 鈥減aid cleaning staff at 性视界传媒 city hall and they retrieved items from councillors garbage.鈥�
On Aug. 9, Young submitted a Notice of Application seeking Cheema鈥檚 civil claim be struck.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
