February 17, 2009 News

Union sues member for $125,000

Student says CSU’s accusations are false

by Terrine Friday

The Concordia Student Union has launched a $125,000 defamation lawsuit against undergraduate student Patrice Blais.

Blais, who held various posts within the CSU between 1997 and 2002 and is currently practicing law, saw his recent recall petition against the current executive thrown out and has spoken against the CSU executive openly on many occasions. Blais has since taken the recall petition to Quebec Superior Court.

“With all due respect to Mr. Blais, there aren’t that many students who are actual lawyers who’ve made statements such as ‘I am here to remove the current executive,’ which he made publicly at the Feb. 11 Council meeting,” said Elie Chivi, the CSU’s VP communications.

“He’s calling this another attempt to undermine him,” Chivi continued. “And he’s accused us so many times of wasting money. But over the course of the past semester, he’s caused our legal fees to accrue continually, whether it’s calling for a recall election right before the March election, whether it’s taking the CSU to court in October […] the list goes on.”

The statement of claim calls Blais’ allegations “baseless, untrue and malicious.”

Blais says the CSU’s accusations are false. “It’s an anti-humiliation tactic and it shows the lack of respect individuals have for dissent to their own regime,” he said.

Both parties must meet before the Court on March 16 at 9 a.m.