Independent city council candidate Jamie Lee Hamilton and provincial Conservative president Ryan Warawa are being sued by Vision Vancouver mayoral candidate Jim Green and council candidate Heather Deal. In a statement of claim filed yesterday morning with the Supreme Court of British Columbia, Mr. Green and Ms. Deal allege statements published on the sex trade activist's Website "are false and defamatory." And they further allege Mr. Warawa attempted to "increase the number of people accessing" Ms. Hamilton's "libelous words" by linking several Internet domain names to that site. In an email sent to friends and supporters, Ms. Hamilton writes she plans to "vigorously" defend against herself against those allegations. Speaking with Public Eye, Ms. Hamilton also denied she libeled Mr. Green and Ms. Deal.
A Vision Vancouver operative, speaking on condition of anonymity, explained "the reason that (this action) has been undertaken is because activists publicly linked to the Sullivan campaign - i.e. Jamie Lee Hamilton - and extremists from the Harper Conservatives are disseminating statements that we allege are untrue and defame and libel Ms. Deal and Mr. Green. And we are taking action to remedy that."
Ms. Hamilton has endorsed Mr. Sullivan's bid for the mayoralty and was present at his victory party. Earlier, Public Eye reported Mr. Warawa had purchased a number of domain names containing the words Vision Vancouver and linked them to Ms. Hamilton's blog. Mr. Green and Ms. Deal are being represented by Leo McGrady of McGrady, Baugh and Whyte. A version of this article will be published in tommorow's edition of 24 hours. The following is an edited copy of Ms. Hamilton's email. Public Eye won't be allowing comments to be posted relating to this story, due to its litigious nature.
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-----Original Message-----
From: tricia foxx
Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2005 15:15:35
To:jamieleehamilton@hotmail.com
Subject: Lawsuit Filed Against Social Activist Hamilton
October 4, 2005
HAMILTON ANNOUNCEMENT
On the eve of a political announcement, I have been informed via email today by a lawyer representing the Friends of Larry Campbell/Vision Vancouver group that he has this morning filed a libel suit against me. This suit is being brought on behalf of Jim Green and Heather Deal regarding her blog.
Also named in the suit is another Blogwriter and political activist, Ryan Warawa.
I will continue with my press conference scheduled for Wednesday October 5, 2005 at NOON on the South side steps of City Hall (12 and Cambie).
Mr Green and Ms Deal are obviously attempting to stifle free speech and political criticism in the lead up to the November, 2005 election.
I plan to vigorously defend free speech in this country which I was born and raised.
Jamie Lee Hamilton
