Mayor Teunis Westbroek served as councilor from 2018-2022 in Qualicum Beach and was Mayor from 1999 to 2018 before being reelected again as Mayor in 2022. (Town of Qualicum Beach)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

$130K payout

Qualicum Beach Mayor’s defamation case payout covered by Town’s insurance

Feb 24, 2023 | 5:13 PM

QUALICUM BEACH — The Town of Qualicum Beach released a statement regarding a settlement between Mayor Westbroek and two local businessmen.

The statement says the $130,000 settlement paid to Ken Schley and John Briuolo was “covered by the town Town’s liability protection insurance policy held with the Municipal Insurance Association of BC (MIABC).”

It goes on to say that the Town paid a $10,000 deductible on account of the insurance claim, pursuant to the Town’s liability protection insurance policy.

Mayor Westbroek paid $2,839 personally towards his legal fees, according to the Town.

“As with any insurance claim, impacts to the Town’s claims rating and premiums are dependent on the insurer’s annual assessment of overall claims history, the results of which are unknown at this time.”

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The release comes after the Mayor issued a public apology in a local newspaper regarding a civil defamation claim against him filed on April 19, 2021 on behalf of Ken Schley, John Briuolo and Kelland Food Holdings Ltd, who sought damages for slander.

Their claim was that Westbroek made statements made in late 2020 and early 2021 when he was a member of Council regarding a fire which destroyed the Qualicum Foods grocery store in 2002, saying the two men “burnt down their grocery store.”

The trial was set to proceed on Feb. 21, 2023, but was called off after Westbroek agreed to publically apologize, and pay $130,000 in damages and legal fees.

The Town initially declined to comment when first asked by NanaimoNewsNOW on Feb.10, saying all inquiries were being referred to the defendant’s lawyer for comment, which we have yet to receive.

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