Cal Wenzel suing Mayor Nenshi for $6M

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Slava

Isn't that a bit of a slippery slope? I mean here we are talking about Nenshi, so that is one candidate. If this was say Larry Heather who made some comments should the city pick up a tab for his defence as well? I think not, personally.

Yeah it's slippery. Any sitting politician running for reelection I think should be covered. But then you get to the Larry Heathers who probably in the context of the campaign should probably be protected.

Maybe it's a legal system problem that someone who can afford to sue can push around someone who can't afford a defense.

[SebC]

Cal Wenzel "agrees that Nenshi has raised legitimate concerns that lawsuits against politicians can have a 'chilling effect' and that this was never his intent." How does ending this in a settlement whereby Wenzel gets his way not create a 'chilling effect'?

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by GGG

Yeah it's slippery. Any sitting politician running for reelection I think should be covered.

So you're giving free-pass to allow politicians to defame opponents without any consequence?

It's certainly a grey issue, but Nenshi accused a businessman of illegal activity and likened him to a gangster. Wenzel wasn't even running for election, so it's not like he was talking about another candidate. Nenshi doesn't like Wenzel, and Wenzel doesn't like Nenshi. But only one of them took to a public platform and accused the other of breaking the law.

I think the more scary precedent would be to allow politicians to accuse anyone they saw fit as criminals without an investigation or trial and expect them not to face consequences. Nenshi either had to prove it, apologize for it, or pay up.

And when asked for an apology, Nenshi refused (like he has done multiple times).

We shouldn't have to pay for ego trips.

[Zarley]

Hopefully Nenshi has learned a lesson here.

[Minnie]

Hopefully Wenzel has learned a lesson too.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Minnie

Hopefully Wenzel has learned a lesson too.

He wanted an apology and he got it. What lesson could he have learned? Suing works?

[Madrox]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Assuming you aren't putting more significance on libel than defamation, he just settled the defamation lawsuit. It's arguable that he would have been found to have committed it if he didn't agree to the settlement...

Given Wenzel filed the suit, and likely has much deeper pockets than Nenshi (unless the city is covering his costs, which I'm not clear on), him settling indicates that he was being advised the law was likely not in his favour. Otherwise, why would he not continue the suit?

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Madrox

Given Wenzel filed the suit, and likely has much deeper pockets than Nenshi (unless the city is covering his costs, which I'm not clear on), him settling indicates that he was being advised the law was likely not in his favour. Otherwise, why would he not continue the suit?

Because Nenshi retracted and apologized as part of the settlement.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Madrox

Otherwise, why would he not continue the suit?

Wenzel? Because he got what he wanted? It was reported multiple times that Wenzel was seeking an apology from Nenshi before taking this to trial. Nenshi has now apologized.

The bigger question is why Nenshi didn't just apologize in the first place. If it was principle, it's sad that he wasn't keeping to it. If it was ego, it's sadder that he has wasted time and potentially tax money (depending on the actual agreement) on his ego.

[CaptainYooh]

11-16-2013, 02:21 PM #83 CaptainYooh
First Line Centre



Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Calgary
Exp:

That's exactly what is going to happen. Nenshi will state publicly that he exercised poor judgement using the words "illegally" and "godfather" and that he did it in the heat of the moment or something like that, which in retrospect,was a poor choice of words on his part and for that he apologizes. Almost 100% guaranteed.

11-16-2013, 02:54 PM #84 Iowa_Flames_Fan
Referee



Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: The Doctor is In
Exp:
...
I can almost guarantee that he does no such thing. The way this ends is that when Wenzel finally gets this to trial (if he doesn't drop it first), his lawyer gets yelled at for bringing a claim that lacks any merit whatsoever, and Wenzel gets to pay costs to Nenshi, which in the context of a 6 million dollar claim will be pretty significant.

Called it!

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

...
The bigger question is why Nenshi didn't just apologize in the first place. If it was principle, it's sad that he wasn't keeping to it. If it was ego, it's sadder that he has wasted time and potentially tax money (depending on the actual agreement) on his ego.

Ego. Nenshi is very egotistic, self-centered and vindictive politician.

[Looch City]

This ultimately falls on Nenshi.

And Trudeau...and the NDP.

[Resolute 14]

This result is merely an affirmation that having more money makes it easier to 'win' in the justice system.

[Kavvy]

I wonder if this will hurt Shane Home's future earnings.

[MelBridgeman]

leadership is about bringing people together

[Ozy_Flame]

Holy f this whole debacle is still petty. Both Wenzel and Nenshi are in the wrong.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

leadership is about bringing people together

Thanksgiving sales at Macy's, strip clubs and fleshmobs are about bringing people together.

Leadership is about one's power to convince others to work towards a common goal without the use of force. Nenshi just doesn't have it. He has been losing motions and finding himself in minority way too many times for a good and effective leader. By many accounts, he was a very entertaining college teacher inciting interesting debates in class. But in those debates, he was the ultimate moderator, judge and jury. In Council, he isn't, so he debates with himself most of the time. In fact, nobody is even arguing with him anymore too much. They just outvote him.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Thanksgiving sales at Macy's, strip clubs and fleshmobs are about bringing people together.

Leadership is about one's power to convince others to work towards a common goal without the use of force. Nenshi just doesn't have it. He has been losing motions and finding himself in minority way too many times for a good and effective leader. By many accounts, he was a very entertaining college teacher inciting interesting debates in class. But in those debates, he was the ultimate moderator, judge and jury. In Council, he isn't, so he debates with himself most of the time. In fact, nobody is even arguing with him anymore too much. They just outvote him.

As long as Council gets motions passed that are effective and useful decisions that are made with long-term improvement of the city in mind, Nenshi can have Mr. Hat on his hand and talk to imaginary ghosts. Nenshi is also an accessible and honest Mayor who genuinely cares for city - not afraid to go to bat with the province or feds.

After meeting him a few times and watching his performance, I do believe Nenshi has more leadership qualities than you're giving him credit for.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

...Nenshi is also an accessible and honest Mayor who genuinely cares for city - not afraid to go to bat with the province or feds...

I actually agree with this and I believe he does.

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

...After meeting him a few times and watching his performance, I do believe Nenshi has more leadership qualities than you're giving him credit for.

I met him a few times too. He is very pleasant and engaging in conversation. However; back to my original points, I don't believe what he demonstrates are leadership qualities. His performance record is not that impressive at all. Those "best mayor ratings" really have little to do with performance measures. Other than his performance during 2013 flood event, I cannot name one good example of him being an effective leader.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

I actually agree with this and I believe he does.


I met him a few times too. He is very pleasant and engaging in conversation. However; back to my original points, I don't believe what he demonstrates are leadership qualities. His performance record is not that impressive at all. Those "best mayor ratings" really have little to do with performance measures. Other than his performance during 2013 flood event, I cannot name one good example of him being an effective leader.

He doesn't handle criticism very well, but he never really has, and it's not really a factor to consider him a poor mayor by any means. Pushing through revitalization of the East Village, his SPUR initiatives, pushing through the Airport Tunnel (which was a good idea IMO), pushing transparency through municipal and civic bureaucracy and advocating a City Charter, and his good relationship with the Tsuu Tina signal to me he is an effective mayor.

Love or hate his personality, when he is done as mayor, I think we're going to look back at his tenure and realize how much was actually accomplished with him at the helm.

[Looch City]

How about Calgary Transit RouteAhead, bikes lanes (whether you like it or not), the development of East Village, the National Music Centre, and many other needed infrastructure projects?

He has accomplished a lot since 2010. I fail to see how you don't see that.