GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Court records show that Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt is facing a civil suit filed against him by former Alderman Guy Zima.
Online documents show that Zima filed the suit on Monday and that it's also against the city of Green Bay, Green Bay city attorney, Vanessa Chavez, and the Cities & Villages Mutual Insurance Company.
The suit is for an intentional tort, according to court records. It details several allegations of slander and defamation.
In a December 2017 television interview, Schmitt called Zima Green Bay's Harvey Weinstein, a reference to the Hollywood producer accused of sexual misconduct. The next day, Schmitt issued a statement admitting his comparison was a mistake. In an October 2017 email, Schmitt called Zima a "psychopath" and alleged that Zima was harassing employees and causing a hostile work environment. The lawsuit says Zima made an open-records request for written complaints against him, but city officials could not find any. In a September 2017 email, Schmitt called Zima a "dotard. In an August 2017 email, Schmitt said he did not believe Zima to be mentally stable and in an email to Police Chief Andrew Smith, Schmitt told the chief to be prepared to remove Zima from a meeting. The email came in the wake of an allegation from a recently married city employee that Zima asked her, “Are you like Kim Kardashian? Did you videotape the wedding night?” According to a redacted document provided by the city, the employee described the conversation as uncomfortable and gross, and the employee tried to change the subject. However, she says Zima went on, saying he saw Kardashian's sex tape a couple times. The lawsuit says the report, prepared by Chavez, was not signed by the people making the accusations and therefore cannot be considered to be verified. The lawsuit also claims the city did not take a statement from Zima to get his side of the story.
The filing fee has also been paid, according to court records.
Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt responded on Wednesday.
"Politics are sometimes a playground and you say things that shouldn't be said, and this happens at all levels of government. I'm sorry that happens," he says.
Beyond that, he doesn't think the lawsuit is worthwhile.
"This is just another silly waste of time and money, but we'll play it out as it needs to be played out," says Mayor Schmitt.
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