An Elliot Lake councillor had the appeal court find in his favour and now he wants his lawyers’ fees paid.
Ed Pearce says the firm E4M, the City’s former Integrity Commissioner, decided to appeal a previous finding against him, a process that has stressed him and his wife over the last three years.
He told The Moose the appeal was heard in September, and he received word last week that the appeal concerning his conflict of interest has been denied by a three-judge panel of the Divisional Court. Pearce says the panel saw no reason for the appeal to have been launched.
Pearce says Justice Lederer stated, “…the Respondent was a valued and dedicated contributor to the community of Elliot Lake and while he made an error, the overwhelming fact is that, in the situation at hand, he acted for the benefit of the community and not his own.”
Pearce says his legal fees add up to tens of thousands of dollars, and although the appeal court did award him half of those costs, he will be going to the City of Elliot Lake to be reimbursed for the rest.
He adds he is glad the legal battle is behind him and just wants to move forward helping the city as best he can as a councillor.
