B.C. solicitor general named in lawsuit
Last Updated: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 | 7:45 PM PT
The Canadian Press
Kash Heed is alleged in a lawsuit to have defamed a West Vancouver police officer while campaigning for the B.C. Liberals. (CBC)B.C. Solicitor General Kash Heed is being sued for defamation by a former West Vancouver police officer who says Heed tried to further his political career at the man's expense.
Doug Bruce names both Heed and West Vancouver Mayor Pamela Goldsmith-Jones in the lawsuit, accusing them of making deliberately false statements about him.
The former staff sergeant says he was on sick leave when he was to appear at a disciplinary hearing connected to a drunk driving investigation that Bruce conducted concerning a fellow officer.
The lawsuit claims both Heed and Goldsmith-Jones knew the police commission hearing was delayed by lawyers, but implied to media that Bruce was using his medical disability as an excuse to avoid the hearing.
Both Heed and Goldsmith Jones were running for election at the time and the lawsuit alleges their comments against Bruce were made to promote themselves politically.
None of the allegations in the lawsuit have been proven in court and a spokesman for Heed said the solicitor general isn't commenting, now that the matter is before the court.
