The Invercargill City Council has refused a request by Mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt to cover his court costs for the defamation trial he was involved in with councillor Karen Arnold. City council chief executive Clare Hadley said Shadbolt approached the council in 2018 to request court costs be covered under an indemnity clause in the Local Government Act. The council sought to determine whether the indemnity clause required the council to cover Shadbolt's costs, and secondly, whether it would be covered by the council's insurance policy. Shadbolt told jurors he was "looking at all the options" available to cover costs and possible damages associated with defending the allegations he defamed Arnold. If they are not [liable] then I will have to pay the costs," he said during the trial.

Source: Stuff June 06, 2019 05:03 UTC