A former city council candidate is suing the City of St. Albert and Mayor Nolan Crouse for $250,000 in punitive damages.
Ted Durham, who filed a statement of claim at the Court of Queen’s Bench in Edmonton on Dec. 3, is also seeking. $7,220.28 in compensatory damages.
Durham is claiming he was defamed by a letter that Crouse sent to his lawyer and through complaints registered with the city’s returning officer about municipal election expenses regarding the 2013 election. None of these allegations have been proven in court.
“Mr. Durham will experience great difficulty in running for public office again because of these accusations,” says the statement of claim.
The statement of claim quotes heavily from articles published in this newspaper, as well as noting that neither the City of St. Albert nor Crouse has apologized publicly or privately to Durham.
In addition to the compensatory and punitive damages, Durham is seeking to have his court costs covered.
The city and Crouse have 20 days to respond from time of service.
Last week, the mayor stated by email he had no comment. Durham also offered no comment.
City communications adviser Marci Ng said the city had been served with a lawsuit and had referred the matter to their legal counsel.
According to court filings, this is the second time Durham has sued the city. The City of St. Albert was among the defendants named in a 2007 lawsuit that was dismissed via a consent dismissal order.
