Summer protest results in defamation suit

The chief of the Liard First Nation and one of its economic officials are suing an organizer of a July protest, claiming she defamed their character.

The chief of the Liard First Nation and one of its economic officials are suing an organizer of a July protest, claiming she defamed their character.

Lawyers for Chief Liard McMillan and economic development officer Alex Morrison filed the lawsuit in Yukon Supreme Court this week against Watson Lake resident Vianna Abou.

In early July, protesters gathered outside the band office in Watson Lake.

They called for the long-time chief’s resignation and demanded an earlier general assembly be called within Watson Lake.

They questioned the leadership’s transparency, particularly regarding the First Nation’s finances.

Abou was the primary spokesperson for the protesters.

The lawsuit points to placards posted at the protest and statements given that day, as well as interviews with the media and a July letter to the editor published in the Star.

It calls these things “part of a campaign of vilification made up of false, malicious, defamatory imputations that have damaged the reputation of the plaintiffs.”

The court documents claim the men have demanded a retraction and apology from Abou but have not received one.

Her words “have damaged the business reputation of the plaintiffs,” the lawsuit says, adding that the statements were newsworthy and led to widespread publication.

Though no specific dollar amount is listed as to how much the men are seeking in compensation, the lawsuit asks for both aggravated and punitive damages.

The men are claiming Abou knew the things she said were false and that her dominant purpose was to “injure the reputation of the plaintiffs because of spite or animosity.”

They are asking a judge to order an injunction which would keep Abou from repeating what she has said or making similar statements in the future.

Abou has yet to file any documents in her defence.

McMillan has denied all of the protesters’ claims and has said he will not step down.

He has publicly stated this will be his last term as chief.

The next election can be called no later than next November.

The suit is scheduled for a case management conference in October.

This is not the first time McMillan has been involved in a defamation lawsuit.

In 2009, a Yukon Supreme Court justice ruled that comments the chief made about a former Watson Lake Secondary School principal in 2006 were untrue and disrespectful, but not enough for the school official to win a defamation suit.