CFJC Today File Photo

By Victor Kaisar

Mayor to Represent Himself

Kamloops mayor to represent himself in lawsuit against Councillor Neustaeter

Dec 5, 2024 | 5:33 PM

KAMLOOPS — In an effort to cut down on his mounting legal bills, the mayor of Kamloops plans to represent himself in his court battle against Councillor Katie Neustaeter, who the mayor sued for defamation and libel last year.

While Daniel Coles has filed a notice in BC Supreme Court, saying he has “ceased” to be lawyer for Reid Hamer-Jackson, the mayor says he hasn’t cut ties with his current legal representation.

“What I’ve done is on specific things, I’m going to represent myself with a little help from other people,” Hamer-Jackson told CFJC Today. “I still am working with Dan Coles and there are certain things that I can do on my own and certain things with some help but that doesn’t mean that Dan will not be doing stuff for me moving forward.”

Hamer-Jackson said in addition to representing himself in his lawsuit against Neustaeter “at this time,” he also plans to represent himself in any future Code of Complaints, believing those investigations are “a waste of time and taxpayers money.”

“Daniel Coles did a great job for me on all these Code of Conduct complaints which we weren’t expecting to be dealing with but he did a great job with getting them dismissed,” Hamer-Jackson added. “There have been a couple more, but I’m going to be defending myself on them because all we’ve been doing is feeding lawyers in Vancouver.”

Two and Out

PETERS: 'Go be homeless somewhere else' is no solution

12h ago

The Tattle of Hastings

THE TATTLE OF HASTINGS: Olynyk talks TRU WolfPack legacy, fight against cancer, life as sports dad

15h ago

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: May 22, 2025

May 22, 2025

Coles is the second lawyer to have represented Hamer-Jackson in his legal battles since he was elected in Oct. 2022. His former lawyer, David McMillan, stepped aside last fall, and later sued Hamer-Jackson for over $35,000 in unpaid legal bills.

Hamer-Jackson says his house in Westmount and the property on West Victoria Street downtown that his auto dealership sits on are still up for sale as he tries to raise money to cover some of his legal bills.

“I don’t really know, but if you split it up…and I would bet if I had to put another retainer, I’m just going to guess that with everything, before going to court, it could be close to $100,000,” Hamer-Jackson said, when asked how much he owes in legal costs.

“I probably have it priced a little high — but hey, it’s no different than what the City of Kamloops or BC Housing pays for property. They are riverfront and developable properties so hopefully we’ll get it going.”

Neustaeter and Hamer-Jackson are scheduled to be in court the week of Jan. 20, 2025.