Politics & Government

Lawsuit Says Activist Defamed Vice Mayor's Son

Brian Detrick is suing a prominent Elk Grove activist in Sacramento County Superior Court.

A series of emails about a local politician's son has led to a lawsuit in county court.

Brian Detrick, an event planner and the son of Elk Grove Vice Mayor Steve Detrick, is suing Elk Grove Community Connection founder Connie Conley, saying she libeled him and hurt his business in a series of emails earlier this year.

In an April email, Conley asked the city council, top-ranking city staff and several local reporters why so many politicians were lending their names to a fundraiser for a local nonprofit that helps foster children; the event was organized by Brian Detrick's newly formed event-planning company.

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"Since Steve Detrick is on the city council, is his son receiving preferential treatment here?" Conley wrote. "Is there political pressure involved here?  Isn't this using his office to promote his son's events; whereby Brian is collecting a fee for his services?"

Brian Detrick's lawsuit, filed June 17, says another email followed, and was sent to the executive director of Courageous Connection, the benefactor of the event Brian Detrick was planning.

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That email "falsely stated that hiring [Brian Detrick] was in violation of California law and would subject Courageous Connection to fines," the lawsuit states.

That same day, the executive director of Courageous Connection told Brian Detrick he wouldn't hire him for future events because of "numerous harassing emails" from Conley, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit says Conley's emails hurt Brian Detrick's reputation and damaged his business.

Brian Detrick's attorney told the Elk Grove Citizen that Conley "took it upon herself to injure his reputation."


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