Sir Tim Shadbolt Photo: ODT filesThe Invercargill City Council and mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt are going to court.Invercargill City Council chief executive Clare Hadley said the decision was made at a meeting on Tuesday, to lay a defence against the mayor after he filed papers earlier this month. Ms Hadley had confirmed to the Otago Daily Times earlier this month, the amount Sir Shadbolt was seeking was $448,000.The costs related to the successful defence of Sir Shadbolt’s defamation court case against Karen Arnold in 2018. Ms Arnold alleged Sir Shadbolt and Stuff had defamed her through comments made by Sir Shadbolt in four opinion columns published by The Southland Times newspaper in 2014 and 2015. Sir Tim then approached the council to pay for the costs for defending the claims last year however the council and the council’s insurance company declined. ''Following the filing of the defence it is expected that the proceedings will follow the normal court processes.''

Source: Otago Daily Times March 18, 2020 23:37 UTC