The Merritt Flying Club is seeking damages the City of Merritt for a report on airport dealings between the two parties, which the flying club says is false.
The notice of damages alleges the report, which was presented to city council by the city’s public works manager Shawn Boven back in May, was false and defamatory, and led to the flying club being denied a renewal of its hangar land premise lease.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
As a result of the alleged defamatory statements, the Merritt Flying Club’s position is the club has suffered and continues to suffer damages, losses and expenses.
This includes the loss of its hangar at a replacement cost of $450,000, losing the airport and hangar leases for the next 25 to 50 years at a value to be determined, and the loss of its reputation by being labelled a deadbeat debtor.
The notice states the club is seeking recovery of incurred costs from the city’s former chief administrative officer and the city as it states the flying club relied on the former employee’s assurances it would receive a new lease when it decided to proceed with construction of its hangar.
