Lil'wat band sues ex-councilor
Lil'wat band sues ex-councilor
Lyle Leo, who is being sued by the Lil'wat/Mt. Currie band for stealing money, was an original member of the 2010 Bid Society. The Lil'wat band council are the one of the Four Host First Nations.
Mount Currie band suing ex-band councillor
Keith Fraser, The Province
Published: Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The Mount Currie band is suing a former band councillor, alleging he took a "secret commission" or a bribe worth $95,000 from developers while he was acting as the band's lead negotiator on major developments.
The band is also seeking the return of $200,000 in salary received by Lyle Leo during the two-year period he acted as negotiator, according to a statement of claim filed in B.C. Supreme Court.
One of the major projects under consideration by the band in 2006 and 2007 was a proposal by Delta Lands Development Ltd. and the Delta group of companies for a major residential and commercial development in the Soo Valley, north of Whistler, says the lawsuit.
The company proposed to develop the properties through a subsidiary, Coal Harbour Properties Partnership 11, and wanted to negotiate with the band to provide funding and other economic opportunities to the band in return for its support, it says.
Delta Lands was also interested in another project in relation to lands owned by the band in the Whistler area.
Leo, a former CEO and business development director for the band, was appointed the lead negotiator in the Soo Valley project and was expected to provide "confidential, strategic and negotiating" advice to the band, says the suit.
But unknown to the band, Leo was also being paid $5,000 a month by Delta Lands or Coal Harbour, from January 2006 to October 2007, it says.
Leo, who has not yet been served with the lawsuit, could not be reached for comment.
A lawyer for the band declined to comment on the suit.
No statement of defence has been filed.
A statement of claim contains unproven allegations.