THUNDER BAY - A former mayor of Thunder Bay and his wife previously found not guilty of extortion have filed a substantial lawsuit against a number of individuals and institutions alleging among many other things they were falsely arrested, defamed and the subject of malicious prosecution.
In a notice of action filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on Oct. 15, Hobbs and his wife, Marisa, are listed as plaintiffs and are seeking multi-million dollars in various damages. Keith Hobbs is seeking a total of $10.975 million in damages, while his wife is seeking $1.525 million.
The civil suit alleges both Keith and Marisa were subjected to false arrest, malicious prosecution, negligent investigation, harassment, intentional infliction of mental suffering, defamation and breaches of their rights.
Hobbs, a retired Thunder Bay Police officer, served two terms as the city’s mayor from 2010 to 2018. He along with his wife, Marisa, and Mary Voss were charged by Ontario Provincial Police in July 2017 and were accused of attempting to use threats and accusations against an another individual in an effort to force him to purchase a house for Voss to live in.
Following a three-week trial, all three were acquitted of the extortion charge.
In the recently filed notice of claim, dozens of named individuals and institutions are listed as defendants including the Thunder Bay Police Services Board, the Attorney General of Canada, and the province.
Hobbs alleges in the claim his charges of extortion and obstruct justice which was brought against him in July 2017 hurt his chances of seeking his third term as mayor which resulted in his loss of income in the amount of $500,000.
The former mayor was also a member of the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation Board of Directors and alleges after he was criminally charged he was advised to remove himself from the board. He alleges as a result of this, he lost a potential total income of $180,000.
Both Keith and Marisa participated in a three-week trial as well as a nine-day preliminary inquiry. The Hobbs allege they paid $500,000 for their criminal defence lawyer for which the defendants are liable.
In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs claim one of the defendants initiated a malicious prosecution against them with the help of two civilian defendants.
“(The civilian defendants) presented a false narrative of events to police with the goals of having the plaintiffs charged,” the claims reads.
The plaintiffs also allege in the statement of claim that a police officer made defamatory statements against Marisa by calling her a “high-end call girl”. The Hobbs said they learned about these comments in December 2019, the claim states.
The claim asks the court to acknowledge the mental and emotional distress the plaintiffs have allegedly suffered as a result of these proceedings.
According to the claim, the plaintiffs have suffered from anxiety, depression, alienation from social contacts, and stress in their marital relationship.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
