Chelsea, Quebec Deputy Mayor Luc Poulin said no agreement existed between him and Doug Griffin to stop the proceedings before Jan. 19’s court date and that it is clear what his former rival for the Ward 1 council seat must do to end the defamation lawsuit.
Poulin said there was “some confusion on (Griffin’s) part that we had an agreement that we would stop the proceedings.” Poulin said that before departing on his holiday he had instructed his lawyers to try to settle - not to stop proceedings.
Griffin was disappointed after meeting Poulin’s lawyers Jan. 19 and not reaching an agreement he felt had been arranged.
He published an apology in the Jan. 13 edition of the Low Down for accusations made against Poulin during last fall’s election campaign. Griffin received a letter of demand from Poulin’s lawyers Nov. 6 for allegations of a cover-up over the Meredith Centre’s financing made in a campaign flyer and widely-distributed email during the election’s final week. Poulin is suing for $9,000 for defamation.
Poulin said Griffin has been informed of the three conditions he must meet for the suit to be dropped.
“Doug has everything in hand. He can settle this as quickly as possible,” Poulin said.
The first is a “sincere apology… more adequate than the letter he published.” Poulin said Griffin didn’t address some of his previous accusations, such as calling Poulin a liar.
The second condition is to make this apology through email to everyone who received Griffin’s email containing the accusations during the election’s final week. Griffin has said he doesn’t have the list of emails to which his was forwarded and is waiting for Poulin’s lawyers to provide the addresses.
Poulin said the third condition is “private between me and Doug.” Griffin said he had no knowledge of any third, private agreement.
Griffin will also have to pay Poulin’s legal fees. Poulin said he has “no idea so far” what that amount will be.
“As long as Doug drags this on it doesn’t get any lower,” he said.
Griffin insists he had a verbal agreement on Jan. 14 with Vincent Vaillancourt, Poulin’s lawyer, that an agreement would be signed Jan. 19 whereby Griffin would send the apologetic email and the matter would be resolved. He said the agreement only involved increasing the number of recipients of the apology - not a new apology.
He said nobody had raised the issue of paying Poulin’s legal fees with him. Poulin said Griffin was aware of these terms.
Right conduct for councillor? (line break)
When asked about how residents might view a public figure suing a resident and former council candidate, Poulin insisted that he has to defend himself against allegations that are damaging to his reputation.
“Although in some parts it’s been mentioned that since I won the election I should put this aside and move one, it has affected me, my son and my family,” Poulin said. “Nobody can expect to be treated that way whatever their profession.”
Poulin said residents can comment on municipal affairs, request information and offer opinions to the administration and council, but that these comments should be civil and accurate.
“But to make allegations I will not stand for - I will not let this pass,” he said.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
C’mon Luc, get off your high horse! You and your lawyer are playing games. You feel powerful and your lawyer gets rich. Your anger that Doug Griffin dared to run against you is the motivator here. He has apologized and that should have been the end of it.
You should do the honourable thing and resign!!! Your arrogance and sense of entitlement is nauseating.
Mr Poulin has, quite obviously, no concept of the Law of Holes; that being; “When you are in one, stop digging.”
Mr Poulin says he requires three conditions to drop his law suit against Doug Griffin? Number one has been satisfied. Number two sounds more like school girl antics than what I would expect from a councillor and deputy mayor. Or perhaps utter arrogance might be a more appropriate term. And the “secret” #3 condition? How mysterious; or should that be “ridiculous”?
Mr. Poulin insisted that he has to defend himself against allegations that are damaging to his reputation. I would suggest that the only damages to Mr. Poulin’s reputation are being self inflicted.
Defamation tort law protects one’s reputation, not one’s feelings. So I would suggest that Mr. Poulin get over himself and focus on the work he was elected to perform.