By Emilee Calametti | The Center Square
Caddo Parish Commissioner Chris Kracman is seeking personal legal counsel after being denied representation by the Caddo Parish Attorney's Office in a defamation lawsuit filed by the owners of a Hosston truck stop.
When speaking to The Center Square, Kracman addressed the alleged defamatory statements and the lawsuit, which he says he intends to fight.
"I was showing due diligence to my constituents. I was conveying to my constituents what I thought about an issue in their favor," said Kracman. "I don't feel like I'm really fighting a defamation lawsuit. I feel like I'm fighting lawfare. The attempt is to silence me on future projects. If they silence me, then they're silencing my 20,000 constituents."
In an email released to The Center Square by Kracman, Caddo Parish Attorney Donna Frazier denied Kracman legal counsel for the alleged defamation suit.
"Good afternoon, Commissioner. I read the lawsuit, and it targets actions that were not related to the course and scope of your duties as a commissioner. As such, your defense would be a matter for your personal attorney," Frazier wrote. "However, if during the proceedings, the court rules that the actions were committed in the course and scope of your duties as commissioner, you would be entitled to be indemnified for your attorney fees."
In the lawsuit, James Silvio, Karim Merchant, Rajan Khadka and Edgemont Holdings, LLC, are being represented by the Harper Law Firm, which is also representing seven Caddo commissioners who are under investigation by the Louisiana Attorney General.
The alleged defamation outlined in the suit concerns the Hosston TA Truck Stop, a business that previously occupied many commission discussions on a sales tax increase designed to help pay for construction of the facility.
The 2% sales tax increase has been utilized to pay back a partial investment amount to Edgemont Holdings, LLC and was passed in April.
After the commission vote, Kracman did a KEEL Radio interview during he made statements that the plaintiffs cite as defamatory. Kracman received a letter from Silvio on April 30 outlining his concerns.
"I write to express my deep concerns with and objections to your publication of defamatory and disparaging statements made about me and my partners and your disparagement of our business, all of which appear to have been done outside your official capacity, and solely as an individual," said Silvio in the letter. "I am advised that publication of a communication falsely imputing criminal conduct to another is defamation per se, and that malice and damage are presumed."