Bar owner serves city councillor with $100,000 lawsuit

NOTRE-DAME-DE-GRÂCE – The battle over a new western-style bar continues to brew.

The owner of Jersey’s Saloon is suing Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (NDG) councillor, Peter McQueen for $100,000.

It all started a few weeks ago when a promotional video of the new bar made the rounds on social media.

McQueen had told Global News he received complaints from residents who said the new bar wasn’t suited for such a family-oriented neighbourhood.

READ MORE: New western-themed bar Jersey’s Saloon serves up controversy in NDG

Now, the owner of the bar, Peter Sergakis, is accusing McQueen of defamation.

Sergakis insists McQueen’s comments are hurting his reputation and he wants it to stop.

“I want the judge to order him to shut up,” he said. “And I’m asking for $100,000 in damages.”

Sergakis said all he wants is an apology.

“If tomorrow he wakes up and says I’m sorry,  I went too far, I made a mistake, I will let everything drop,” he said.

Fellow NDG councillor, Marvin Rotrand, said McQueen hasn’t done anything wrong.

“I don’t see any damages that merit any sort of suit,” Rotrand said. “And again to try to say that he was defamed simply because McQueen asked some questions and raised concerns of citizens seems rather extreme.”

As for those who visited the bar themselves, the reactions are mixed.

READ MORE: Amid controversy, Jersey’s Saloon opens in ‘mom-and-pop’ neighbourhood of NDG

“The bar is fine – music’s a little bit too loud – the dancing’s kinda sad and a little pathetic from my point of view – it’s not great,” said one patron.

Meanwhile, an NDG resident, who has been visiting the bar for over 18 years said he doesn’t see what the big deal is about.

“The councillor, Peter Mcqueen, I have no idea what the guy is talking about because I come here and there’s nothing here to talk about really, except that it’s a bar,” he said.

Global News reached out to McQueen for comment on the lawsuit, but he declined on advice from his lawyer.