B.C. Supreme Court dismisses Kamloops mayor’s defamation lawsuit against councillor

03-Feb-2026

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A B.C. Supreme Court justice has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson against city councillor Katie Neustaeter, ruling the case targeted free political speech. 

Hamer-Jackson filed the lawsuit in June 2023, alleging Neustaeter defamed him in multiple internal council emails and a public statement she read on behalf of city council during a March 2023 news conference.