A court hearing on what, if anything, the city's Pension Board should pay in legal costs for its failed defamation lawsuit launched against former Common Councillor John Ferguson is all about freedom of expression. That, from Lawyer Rod Gillis who argues the lawsuit was frivolous, vexatious, without merit and mean't to harass and silence Ferguson. Gillis says the jury came to the same decision. For his part, Gillis says 2 and a half million dollars in costs might be on the low side.
The Pension Board's lawyer Barry Morrison argues there should be no costs awarded at all because the case was fought over principle and there was no evidence to suggest it was brought to silence anyone. He told the court the Pension Board did not operate in a scandalous, outrageous or reprehesible way.
Deputy Mayor Shelly Rinehart was among those attending the hearing. She had been following the trial long before the municipal election campaign got underway and says it's incumbant on the part of all Council members to educate themselves about the city's pension plan with the facts.
Mr. Justice William Grant gave no indication when a decision will be made.
