Colin Craig’s latest lawsuit thrown out
Former Conservative Party leader Colin Craig’s attempts to bill Whale Oil blogger Cameron Slater for publishing his poem Two of Me on his blog has failed.
Craig was seeking $3000 for each month Slater published his poem on his blog site - along with a retraction and apology, and damages. The total claim was $15,000.
From Taxpayers Union founder Jordan Williams, who supplied Slater with a copy of the poem, Craig sought general and punitive damages totalling $8000.
The poem was written and sent by Craig to his former press secretary Rachel Macgregor, who later accused him of sexual harassment.
At the Auckland District Court yesterday, Judge Mary Beth Sharp called Craig’s lawsuit against Slater and Williams ’’vexatious’’ and ‘‘improper’’ and a ‘‘deception perpetrated on the court’’, according to Williams’ lawyer Ali Romanos.
She granted Williams’ applications for summary judgment in respect of his defence that publication of the poem was in the public interest and didn’t breach fair dealings under copyright law.
For both Williams and Slater, she struck out Craig’s claim on the basis that it was a vexatious proceeding, Romanos said. She also gave leave for the pair to apply for indemnity costs.
It’s understood that Craig defended himself in yesterday’s proceeding.
It is the latest in a year of legal battles for Craig, who most recently was found by a High Court jury to have defamed Williams after publishing a leaflet calling Williams a liar. That was in response to Williams bringing allegations of sexual harassment by Craig to Conservative board members after Macgregor’s sudden resignation shortly before the last election. - Fairfax NZ