Councillor threatens to sue ex-mayor Andrew Wilson
The rollercoaster legal battle between rebel councillor Benjamin Barrak and Parramatta Council has taken another turn just weeks after he partially won an appeal in the Supreme Court.
Parramatta
Don't miss out on the headlines from Parramatta . Followed categories will be added to My News.
- New Parramatta Lord Mayor elected
- Carlingford commuter crisis worsens
- Plan to boost Parramatta night life
Rebel Parramatta councillor Benjamin Barrak has threatened to sue former Lord Mayor Andrew Wilson for defamation just weeks after partially winning an appeal against the council in the Supreme Court.
Cr Barrak is alleging Cr Wilson defamed him by falsely insinuating he was a liar and damaging his “reputation in general” during meetings on February 20 and 25.
On Monday, Cambridge Law wrote on behalf of Cr Barrak to Cr Wilson.
The letter, from solicitor Raed Rahal, claimed in the meetings the mayor falsely implied Cr Barrak was a dishonest person who misled a court as a solicitor and could not be trusted professionally, therefore damaging his reputation “generally and, specifically, in the political and legal spheres”.
The letter stated Cr Barrak demanded Cr Wilson provide a retraction and an “unreserved apology”.
“Such retraction and apology are required to be minuted and other necessary steps taken to correct the public record that you and others in the chamber have wrongly created,” the letter said.
It said if a “a satisfactory response” was not received defamation proceedings would start.
Cr Barrak said he would consider threatening to sue more councillors.
“I’m not adamant to take legal action — that’s what I would characterise legal action as an option of last resort,” he said.
On September 3, Cr Barrak was partially successful in his appeal against the council.
In April, Cr Barrak took legal action claiming he was denied natural justice for being ejected from a February 20 meeting because he called the Lord Mayor a clown and insulted a council legal representative.
Two of the three judges held the council was entitled to make Cr Barrak apologise for insulting the mayor but both parties had to bear their own costs of the proceedings.
Cr Wilson did not responded to the Advertiser’s inquiries.
IN OTHER NEWS
