River Forest
Longtime River Forester George Parry and Village President Frank Paris have been foes for years-a decade or more. Paris dismissed Parry from boards and commissions; Parry has campaigned against Paris.
But now, Parry says Paris went too far at a recent board meeting, and he is threatening to sue Paris for defamation.
In a June 15 letter addressed to Paris and Village Administrator Steve Gutierrez, Parry demands “that the Village and Mr. Paris (in his individually [sic] capacity) make affirmative efforts to preserve all forms of evidence” regarding comments Paris made at the village board’s June 11 meeting.
Parry claims two comments Paris made at the meeting were defamatory. First, Paris explained the reason he removed Parry from the Police Pension Board by saying, “He was trying to sell pension products to the retirees.”
At the meeting, Parry immediately denied the claim. “I’ve never made a single nickel in this village,” Parry said.
Later, referring to an unrelated matter, Paris said, “I remember when we found you in the police evidence room examining things you had no business examining.”
Parry again retorted, “You’ve never found me in the police evidence room. I don’t even know where the police evidence room is.”
The exchange followed Parry’s address during the public comment portion of the meeting, during which he outlined several concerns for the village board, especially for how he said Paris appoints members to boards and commissions, and how village boards have been in “shameless compliance [with Paris’s recommendations], abrogating its affirmative legal responsibility to both advise and consent, thereby denying the people of River Forest … the expertise necessary for good governance.”
In the letter, obtained by Wednesday Journal, Parry gives notice of his claim for “defamation per se,” meaning the defamation, or slander, in the case is self-evident. If a statement made against someone needs contextual information to be considered defamatory, it is considered “per quod.”
In an interview, Parry said he has yet to file a suit.
“I’m gathering evidence because [Paris] hasn’t stopped talking,” he said. “Paris says a lot of things he shouldn’t be saying.”
That might be the only thing the two agree on. Paris said he regretted his comments directed at Parry at that meeting because “it was an inappropriate thing to say publicly.”
Paris would not comment further on what he said at the meeting, citing legal concerns.
Parry said his two personal attorneys had reviewed the information and that he is searching for an attorney who specializes in defamation cases.
“When you go to war, you want to go first class,” Parry said.