Mallard sued

NewstalkZB reports:

Parliament’s Speaker Trevor Mallard is being sued following his claim last year that a rapist was working at Parliament.

A Parliamentary worker stood down last May after Mallard’s comments is alleging the Speaker defamed him.

The Parliamentary worker has hired Matthew McClelland QC who refused to comment on the defamation proceedings which are seeking $400,000 in general damages, $50,000 in punitive damages and court costs.  Mallard is being represented by a Queen’s Counsel from Kensington Swan. The firm’s media lawyer Linda Clark, a former TVNZ political editor, is also involved in the case and refused to comment.

On a minor note, a QC does not work in a law firm. Kensington Swan will be the instructing solicitor, and the QC will be an independent barrister.

On the wider issue, it will be a fascinating case. There may be more details we don’t know, but on what has been reported the parliamentary staffer appears to have substantive grounds. But again we don’t know full facts.