British ColumbiaA B.C. Supreme Court justice has reserved judgment on whether a defamation case filed by Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson should proceed. It’s been more than two years since he accused Coun. Katie Neustaeter of making false statements about him in public.Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson has accused Coun. Katie Neustaeter of making false claims about himMarcella Bernardo · CBC News · Posted: Sep 26, 2025 9:26 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoCoun. Katie Neustaeter, right, has defended the comments she made about Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson, left. (Jenifer Norwell and Marcella Bernardo/CBC)A B.C. Supreme Court judge has reserved judgment on whether a defamation case filed by Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson should proceed.It’s been more than two years since he accused another member of city council, Katie Neustaeter, of making false statements about him in public.Hamer-Jackson and Neustaeter have been at odds since shortly after they were both elected in October 2022.In March 2023, Neustaeter read out a statement at city hall accusing the mayor of crossing personal and professional boundaries.Coun. Katie Neustaeter and her lawyer, Daniel Reid, are seen outside court in early July. (Marcella Bernardo/CBC)Hamer-Jackson said that significantly harmed his reputation because some people assumed he made sexual advances on her.Neustaeter defends the comment, saying it was about her frustration with the mayor for repeatedly engaging with her ailing father, Kevin Krueger, a former Kamloops MLA.Krueger has been hospitalized since January 2025 with advanced dementia.Hamer-Jackson denies he violated any personal boundaries. He claims Krueger initiated every meeting and when they spoke on the phone, Krueger seemed healthy.The Protection of Public Participation Act makes it possible to have a case tossed out if it is considered frivolous or an attempt to muzzle someone raising legitimate concerns.Neustaeter’s lawyer, Daniel Reid, spent much of the week telling the judge this case should be dismissed because anything his client said in public about the mayor was fair comment.Reid told CBC News the judge’s decision will determine if the mayor has to pay Neustaeter’s legal costs, which are currently being covered by the City of Kamloops.”There is a presumption a successful defendant is entitled to the costs,” Reid said.Hamer-Jackson and Neustaeter have been sparring, in public and in court, since the spring of 2023. (City of Kamloops )Before reserving judgment, Justice Jacqueline Hughes rejected last-minute affidavits filed by Hamer-Jackson’s wife and daughter.Hamer-Jackson’s lawyer, Jody Wells, was not able to explain why those documents were submitted so late. She told the judge they should be entered as evidence because they detail the harm suffered by members of the Hamer-Jackson family since March 2023. Wells declined CBC News’ request for comment outside the courthouse.Another lawsuitThis week’s case is one of two brought forward by Hamer-Jackson accusing Neustaeter of making false statements about him — the other based on allegations that he monitored her bathroom breaks at city hall.Reid says the fate of the second claim may depend on the outcome of the first one.”That’s going to be, I think, a discussion for a later day between myself and my client in terms of how we proceed on that,” the lawyer said.The justice did not say when she intends to deliver her ruling.The next city council meeting in Kamloops is Oct. 7.
Judge reserves decision on application to dismiss Kamloops, B.C., mayor’s defamation suit
