Guy Zima (File Photo)
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A civil defamation lawsuit filed by former Ald. Guy Zima against former Mayor Jim Schmitt was dismissed Friday at Zima’s request.
Zima filed the suit in 2018, alleging emails and comments by Schmitt damaged his reputation. A trial had been scheduled to start June 15, but Door County Judge David Weber granted Zima’s request.
In a letter to the court, Zima explained his rationale.
Between the personal demands of caring for my disabled son and the legal demands of pursuing the proofs of the case in the midst of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, I am forced to abandon my desire for justice and relief from the court.
I believe James Schmitt had great revenge motive to slander me as I had previously filed two (2) separate criminal complaints against him with the Brown County District Attorney’s Office, one of which uncovered over 30 violations of the law, including fraud, money laundering and accepting illegal corporate political contributions. James Schmitt was criminally convicted in that case.
I should also note that prior to James Schmitt slandering me, I was elected 42 consecutive years to the County Board and 40 out of 42 years to the Green Bay City Council.
In conclusion, it is not my desire to continue the case nor to allow James Schmitt to continue to spend taxpayer money to hide his slander. A simple and sincere apology from James Schmitt would have sufficed to make this right.
Respectfully yours,
Guy Zima
Schmitt left office in spring 2019.
Zima’s attorney, A.J. Williams, praised Zima’s decision in a letter to the court.
“I believe Mr. Zima is carrying on in the same manner as when he was championing the taxpayers and common citizens of Green Bay and Brown County. He continues to be more concerned for their welfare than his own,” Williams wrote.
Zima had been seeking unspecified damages and a court order for a public apology. Zima was upset that Schmitt made public allegations that Zima had harassed female city staff members and called Zima “Green Bay’s Harvey Weinstein” in a 2017 TV Interview.
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