Kamloops mayor to represent himself in one of two defamation cases

Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson has decided to go without a lawyer as the first hearing for his defamation suit against a fellow councillor approaches. Less than two months away, Hamer-Jackson said he and his lawyer decided not to continue one of his two ongoing defamation suits together. "Unless I come into a bunch of funds, that could change, but I still work with him," Hamer-Jackson said of his lawyer Daniel Coles. It was mounting legal costs that led Hamer-Jackson to take on code of conduct investigations without legal representation. Coles, and his previous lawyer David McMillan, both represented the mayor for those in the past. READ MORE: Kamloops city councillor's secret recording scandal far from over https://infotel.ca/newsitem/kamloops-city-councillors-secret-recording-scandal-far-from-over/it107373 "(Coles) has done a great job of getting some of these conduct cases dismissed," Hamer-Jackson said, but added they were "unexpected" and took "a lot of work." He was hired on McMillan's suggestion last year specifically to handle the defamation suit against councillor Katie Neustaeter https://infotel.ca/newsitem/kamloops-mayor-councillor-spill-the-beans-in-court-filings/it99714 , but Hamer-Jackson said they haven't parted ways entirely. Asked about whether Coles will stay on with his other lawsuit, Hamer-Jackson said it's a matter of "how much funding I'm going to be receiving." That one, also for defamation, is against local developer Joshua Knaak https://infotel.ca/newsitem/kamloops-mayor-accused-of-groping-developers-wife-in-response-to-lawsuit/it106133 and it's not clear if or when that case will be heard by a judge. The mayor had previously commented on his mounting legal costs, going so far as to list his business property and other assets for sale. Listed for $5.6 million, Hamer-Jackson said he hasn't gotten any offers, but he has spoken with a developer and with multiple realtors. READ MORE: Long legal battle ahead for Kelowna residents displaced by UBCO downtown highrise http://Long legal battle ahead for Kelowna residents displaced by UBCO downtown highrise The mayor's third ongoing court case is one that puts him on the defensive, up against McMillan over disputed legal bills https://infotel.ca/newsitem/mayor-vs-lawyer-kamloops-hearing-over-allegedly-unpaid-legal-bills-to-be-sealed/it107122 . He claims Hamer-Jackson owes him more than $30,000 for legal services over the past several years. The only one scheduled for a hearing so far is the first defamation suit in which Neustaeter's legal fees will be supported by the City. Hamer-Jackson and Neustaeter are scheduled to appear before a judge in January where she'll argue the case has no merit and attempt to have it tossed before a trial can start. Coles was not immediately available to comment. To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry mailto:llandry@infonews.ca  or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .