A Surrey city councillor has launched his defence of a defamation action brought against him last month.
Coun. Jack Hundia
Businessman Bob Cheema is suing Surrey Coun. Jack Hundial for defamation in relation to a notice of motion raised in a city council meeting on Sept. 16.
In that motion, Hundial questioned city staff as to why Cheema appeared on a meeting calendar on Nov. 2, 2018 with B.C. Solicitor General Mike Farnworth and Mayor-Elect Doug McCallum.
Farnworth’s office has since said Cheema did not attend the meeting, but was added to the calendar in error.
On Oct. 4, Cheema filed a civil action against Hundial in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver, stating that he has been “seriously injured in his character, credit, and reputation and has been exposed to public scandal and contempt, all of which have caused him personal embarrassment, distress and humiliation.
On Nov. 15, Hundial filed a response in court denying the allegations.
“At no time did the defendant commit the tort of defamation as alleged, or at all,” his lawyer states in the Response to Civil Claim . “If the defendant is found to have committed the tort of defamation, he relies on the defence of qualified privilege.”
None of the allegations in the Civil Claim, nor the response, have been proven in court.