Rob Ford Slapped With $6 Million Lawsuit

Rob Ford will be dealing with a multi-million dollar lawsuit as he continues his campaign to become Toronto’s next mayor.

George Foulidis, the owner of the Boardwalk Café, is suing Ford for libel, claiming the local politician tarnished his reputation and affected his business with comments made to the media regarding the restaurant’s lease agreement with the city.

Foulidis is reportedly seeking $5 million in damages and $1 million in punitive damages.

Last month the restaurateur held a news conference with his lawyer informing Ford that he would be served with a lawsuit unless he offered an apology and proof of corruption. Ford’s team said it wouldn’t back down and the candidate was reportedly served Tuesday.

Ford publicly criticized the deal Tuggs Inc., the company owned by Foulidis and his family, made with the city. The city extended the company’s 20-year lease in 2006 in an untendered process, which Coun. Sandra Bussin helped push through.

An attempt to reopen the issue was voted down by council last June.

The Foulidis family has been operating the Boardwalk Café since 1986.

Ford told the Toronto Sun in August that the deal “smacks of corruption”. A month earlier he suggested on CFRB that money was exchanged “under the table”.

The mayoral candidate used the deal to highlight wasteful spending and corruption at City Hall. Foulidis claims Ford’s political gain was his loss.