NDP Martin’s offer of mea culpa won’t stop lawsuit

Outspoken New Democrat MP Pat Martin gave an unequivocal apology to Racknine Inc., and its CEO Matt Meier Monday, but the mea culpa comes too late to halt a $5-million defamation lawsuit launched against him.

“I wrongfully accused them of being part of conspiracy to commit electoral fraud,” Martin said. “I now know that the statements I made insinuating Mr. Meier and Racknine’s participation in an electoral fraud conspiracy were wholly and unequivocally false.”

But Justin Matthews, a lawyer for Meier and Racknine, said the apology comes too late to stop his client’s lawsuit. Severe reputational damage was done by Martin, Matthews said, and the issue will be resolved in court.

“This doesn’t resolve the lawsuit,” Matthews said. “We demanded an immediate apology.”

In a Feb. 23 warning letter to Martin, Matthews said his client was likened to criminals, and called a “goon,” a “rascal” and a “sleazy punk” on television and to print reporters. The letter demanded Martin make an immediate and fulsome apology through major media outlets, but none was made until Monday.