Cal Wenzel suing Mayor Nenshi for $6M

[Dentoman]

Nenshi opened himself up for this by saying something stupid .... no Godfather comment, no lawsuit. If Wenzel wants to sue him .... he can ... Nenshi left him that option.
If doesn't matter if you think Wenzel should sue him .... Nenshi gave him the opportunity.

[Dentoman]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

And I'm on the side of the taxpayers not paying the legal bill for Nenshi.

I agree with this as well.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Understating a bit. Nenshi called him a bad name and made allegation of criminal acts.

Out of genuine curiosity, did Nenshi actually say that he believed Cal Wenzel breached election laws or that it appeared as though he may have breached election laws and that should be examined?

[CaptainCrunch]

Read sections 23 and 24 of the lawsuit, its about more then the godfather comment.

Nenshi's getting sued because he accussed a person of not only breaking the law, but counseling others about breaking the law, the godfather comment is only one part of this.

I do question the 6 million bucks in damages though, but I'm not a lawyer, so I'm assuming demand high settle for less.

[1stLand]

Not only that but Nenshi had the opportunity to apologize and make this all go away. Instead he is playing chicken and potentially costing the city legal fees and damages.

And he says its all in the name of protecting free speech? Give me a break.

[Slava]

I guess the day has come where I agree with Captain Crunch! I just don't want taxpayers on the hook for something someone said/says in the future.

I also think its silly that Nenshi didn't just apologize or issue a public apology now. I understand that this seems silly, but it could resolve the entire thing. I've been in a similar position (who hasn't?!); you say something you think is innocuous and someone else takes offence. That's what matters, because you can't control what someone else finds offensive, so at point you basically have no choice but to apologize.

[Bertuzzied]

Eff that. I hope he never apologizes. I would have no problem using our money to countersue the Weasel and since we are pulling number out of our ass, i hope the Nenshi asks for $15million for wasting our time.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Addick

Out of genuine curiosity, did Nenshi actually say that he believed Cal Wenzel breached election laws or that it appeared as though he may have breached election laws and that should be examined?

Yes, section 23 of the lawsuit from the CBC interview.

Nenshi - "Let's not be ridiculous here! This is one thing I do not understand, which is why everyone is being so polite. We had a scene right outside of - out of the movie Godfather. We had a guy admitting that he broke the law in 2010 in favor of one candidate Ward 7's Kevin Taylor - running again. We realize the law cannot actually be enforce - It has no enforcement ability. We had a guy telling people in the room how to break the law in this election and going through every single race saying this is the councillor that will oppose Nenshi, make sure you vote for the guy that opposed Nenshi. Make sure you give them money, and I invented this? Lets not be ridiculous?"

Section 24

Defamatory words in their nature and ordinary meaning and by innueendo meant and were understood to mean that

a) Wenzel deliberately had broken the law
b) Wendzel admitted he deliberately had broken the law
c) Wendzel had counceled others on how to break the law; and
d) Wendzel is the head of a mafia organization that is working to disrupt municipal politics utilizing immoral or illegal practices


That the's basis of the lawsuit and it looks to be more about the general statement that Nenshi made then just the as long suffering put it "bad name"

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

Eff that. I hope he never apologizes. I would have no problem using our money to countersue the Weasel and since we are pulling number out of our ass, i hope the Nenshi asks for $15million for wasting our time.

I'm curious as to the basis of this counter suit?

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I'm curious as to the basis of this counter suit?

Wasting everyone's time in court. and for using the Bionic Man's trade mark of $6million dollars.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Slava

I guess the day has come where I agree with Captain Crunch! I just don't want taxpayers on the hook for something someone said/says in the future.

I also think its silly that Nenshi didn't just apologize or issue a public apology now. I understand that this seems silly, but it could resolve the entire thing. I've been in a similar position (who hasn't?!); you say something you think is innocuous and someone else takes offence. That's what matters, because you can't control what someone else finds offensive, so at point you basically have no choice but to apologize.

Are you ok? If you feel dizzy it might help you to lie down for a while.

I do agree with you that this probably could have gone away with a retraction or public apology.

I would also say that if it was just the godfather your right that on its own is fairly innocuous.

Its the accusations of breaking the law and counseling others to break that law that's at the heart of this suit and can do real damage.

I would be willing to bet that this will be settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

Wasting everyone's time in court. and for using the Bionic Man's trade mark of $6million dollars.

Well thanks for that, and I was accused of making this thread worse with my posts.

[Dentoman]

Originally Posted by 1stLand

Not only that but Nenshi had the opportunity to apologize and make this all go away. Instead he is playing chicken and potentially costing the city legal fees and damages.

And he says its all in the name of protecting free speech? Give me a break.

100% agree

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

For those who are defending Wenzel here, there is one thing you should keep in mind: legally speaking, this lawsuit has no merit. None. Zero. Zilch. Like a 0% chance of any outcome other than a stiff costs award.

And it's Nenshi who is wasting public money? Frivolous lawsuits against public officials is a very easy way to force taxpayers to pay tons of cash in legal fees that they wouldn't otherwise. Don't want taxpayers footing the bill? Don't bring idiotic lawsuits because your feelings are hurt.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Read sections 23 and 24 of the lawsuit...

Cheers.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

For those who are defending Wenzel here, there is one thing you should keep in mind: legally speaking, this lawsuit has no merit. None. Zero. Zilch. Like a 0% chance of any outcome other than a stiff costs award.

And it's Nenshi who is wasting public money? Frivolous lawsuits against public officials is a very easy way to force taxpayers to pay tons of cash in legal fees that they wouldn't otherwise. Don't want taxpayers footing the bill? Don't bring idiotic lawsuits because your feelings are hurt.

I would normally agree with you, but I don't think looking at the lawsuit that its completely frivolous, I agree that the demand for compensation is ridiculous.

But you can't throw out blind accusations that's not free speech at all.

I'm not defending Wenzel or attacking Nenshi.

But there's a line that you skirt in terms of free speech and Nenshi blew right by it.

As far as the question of wasting public funds, that's under debate right now and is the most interesting part of this.

Since this was in the middle of an election campaign, and Nenshi was in effect campaigning and the comments went towards election conduct, the argument is that Nenshi was speaking as a mayoral candidate and not the mayor, and if that's what the council recognizes then this lawsuit will cost taxpayers nothing except the time that Nenshi is not on the job.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

For those who are defending Wenzel here, there is one thing you should keep in mind: legally speaking, this lawsuit has no merit. None. Zero. Zilch. Like a 0% chance of any outcome other than a stiff costs award...

For those who are defending Nenshi here, there is one thing you should keep in mind: legally speaking, his defense has no merit. None. Zero. Zilch. Like a 0% chance of any outcome other than his huge ego gratification. Plus, the taxpayers' money to defend it.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

For those who are defending Wenzel here, there is one thing you should keep in mind: legally speaking, this lawsuit has no merit. None. Zero. Zilch. Like a 0% chance of any outcome other than a stiff costs award.

And it's Nenshi who is wasting public money? Frivolous lawsuits against public officials is a very easy way to force taxpayers to pay tons of cash in legal fees that they wouldn't otherwise. Don't want taxpayers footing the bill? Don't bring idiotic lawsuits because your feelings are hurt.

The more I think of this situation, its just stupid on both ends. Sure, Wenzel might have a frivolous lawsuit and he was offended. Nenshi should've just apologized though. Like I said before, you don't get to choose whether people are offended by your comments. It probably surprises no one that I've been in that position before: to this day I have no idea how I offended a particular person, but he was offended, so I apologized. I didn't think that I should have to, but that's not the point.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Nenshi should apologize for hurting Cally-Poos feelings, Cally-Poo should apologize to Calgary for making a bunch of crappy, cookie cutter communities, everyone feels better about themselves except the lawyers who miss out on the legal bill.

[Stay Golden]

This is a perfect reflection of people in the public spotlight being loose lipped, like Nenshi has been on Twitter about other topics. I think Nenshi is too accustom to casting smart ass remarks in general on social media from a distance but this Godfather remark was when he was being interviewed. There is no misunderstanding what Nenshi meant by that comment.
It is one thing if an average citizens goes off with a remark but for a Mayor or any politician to do it publicly then they are asking for repercussions eventually.