The Northern Midlands mayor and general manager are pushing ahead with their defamation claims and are suing a ratepayer, however, questions remain over who will foot the bill.
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It's alleged ratepayer and developer Andrew McCullagh defamed mayor Mary Knowles and general manager Des Jennings through a Facebook page titled Northern Midlands Council Watch and in several emails.
They threatened to sue unless an apology was issued and a promise was made not to defame them in future. Mr McCullagh did not agree to either and subsequently they filed the case in November.
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Questions remain on who will fund the case, with the council refusing to answer questions on the matter.
On behalf of the pair, Hobart law firm Butler McIntyre and Butler sent a letter to Mr McCullagh in early October threatening to file defamation proceedings against him.
The alleged defamation grounds for councillor Knowles and Mr Jennings were for damages to their reputations about their performance at the council.
The Examiner has sighted the the case writs and the 14-page letter from the law firm.
It stated all of the allegations made against the pair were denied and the maximum amount of damages that may be awarded for non-economic loss was set at $421,000.
Mr McCullagh again reiterated he was trying to hold the council to account for its actions and would continue to do so, and said he had evidence to back his claims.
The various emails, allegedly defaming the pair, were sent to Premier Peter Gutwein, Local Government Minister Mark Shelton, councillors and council staff.
The council was contacted for comment, but said it would be inappropriate to comment.
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Isobel Cootes
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
