The Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta (WIPA) is suing former leader Paul Hinman for roughly $180,000 in damages after the party's annual general meeting ended in chaos..On September 13, a statement of claim was filed by the WIPA with the Court of King's Bench of Alberta in Calgary..Specific damages equal to the cost of scheduling and hosting a second AGM in the approximate sum of $30,000, the amount will have to be proven at the trial..General damages are also being sought by the WIPA against Hinman for trespassing and intentional interference with the business of the WIPA by unlawful means for $25,000, and $25,000 in general damages against the defendants..The WIPA is also seeking damages against Hinman for trespassing, assault, attempted assault, and "conspiracy to interfere with the business" of the WIPA in the sum of $100,000.."Most of the evidence comes from the YouTube and Facebook videos posted by Paul's own supporters in an attempt to somehow prove they legitimately won the AGM. It's a case of truth being stranger than fiction. They are literally bragging about what they did," board President Rick Northey said..In August, the WIPA filed a court order against former leader Hinman and the court has decided to remove him..On Monday, the Provincial Board of Governors of the WIPA provided an update to the Western Standard regarding the legal action brought against the board by Hinman..READ MORE: Court orders filed against Hinman by Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta.Hinman initially filed a court injunction to stop the board from removing him but a court said the case was, "too complicated to proceed with an instant remedy.".After Hinman's failed bid to win a seat in the Alberta legislature, a party review determined he was in a “conflict of interest” when he transferred campaign funds to pay himself..According to court documents, in Nov. 2021 Hinman was the leader of the WIPA and at that time the Provincial Board of Governors of WIPA decided they could no longer negotiate remuneration with Hinman, and he was advised he would be receiving no remuneration. On June 27, after the notice was given, the Provincial Board of Directors suspended Hinman’s membership status for conduct in breach of the code of conduct of the WIPA..During June or July, on a date not known to WIPA, Hinman or Hinman supporters organized a loose group named the “Loyalty Coalition.” All of the names of the members are not known to WIPA. Their goal was to take steps to have Hinman re-instated as the leader of WIPA.."They are trying to take over WIPA by fakery. They have a fake provincial board, a fake website, a fake provincial phone number, and a mailing address. We are getting people asking for donation refunds and receipts for which we have no record that a donation was made. I do not yet have proof so I cannot make any allegations, but next year come tax time, it's all going to come out," Northey said..The Annual General Meeting for WIPA was scheduled for July 23 and held at the Baymont Inn in Red Deer. Notice was properly given to the members who were invited by WIPA to attend either in person or via a Zoom link..According to court documents, Hinman conspired in secret meetings to disrupt the AGM of the WIPA, and to interfere with business through the unlawful means of intimidation, assault, and trespassing..At the commencement of the AGM Hinman assumed a position inches outside the doorway to the meeting room where he remained, blocking the entrance and exit from approximately 9:30 a.m. until approximately 2 p.m. He was asked to leave but refused and remained as an intimidating physical presence to the ongoing proceedings, it is claimed..At the commencement of proceedings, Danny Hozack began making disruptive requests for points of order and organizing others to do so as well. In total 55 Points of Order were made, and none were sustained by the independent parliamentarian hired to conduct the AGM. The delaying process took until approximately 2 p.m., the court papers claim..Throughout the time of 2:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. the chairman, the Provincial Board of Governors, the attendees, and the invited keynote speaker were subject to an increasingly volatile behaviour of Hinman and his supporters which eventually turned to incidents of aggression directed toward the Board of Governors and others, it is claimed..Throughout this meeting, defendants Todd Brown, and Kathy Flett encouraged the incitement of the crowd of Hinman supporters, it is claimed..The court documents stated at 2 p.m. Hinman entered the meeting room knowing he was not entitled to do so. Surrounded by a cadre of supporters, he pushed his way to the first and then the second microphone. This inflamed the crowd, which quickly turned into a mob, it is claimed..The Western Standard has tried to reach Hinman about the as yet unproven allegations but hasn't heard back..READ MORE: Hinman says he will appeal ruling to remove him as Wildrose Party leader.On July 12, Hinman applied unsuccessfully for permission from the Court of King’s Bench in Lethbridge to attend the AGM which was denied. The court documents stated Hinman knew that he did not have any right to be present at the AGM..Upon entering the meeting room on July 23, Hinman was directed by the chairman to leave the room and he refused to do so. Hinman allegedly trespassed on the AGM and continued to allegedly unlawfully trespass by remaining in the roo, it is claimed..It's also alleged at 2 p.m. Hozack ascended the podium in the meeting and began haranguing the Provincial Board of Governors and the chairman, with language further inciting the mob..The situation became very dangerous due to the behaviours of Hinman and his supporters throughout the day which prevented WIPA from conducting the business scheduled for the meeting, thus interfering by unlawful means with the conduct of the AGM, it is claimed..Between 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., the chairman and Provincial Board of Governors and others escaped from the meeting with difficulty. They were blocked and prevented from leaving without the aid of security personnel. One governor needed assistance from another member to exit the room with her daughter and sustained a cut on her leg and another governor was physically threatened by a Hinman supporter with a closed fist. Another governor was physically accosted by Hinman and had to request that Hinman remove his hand from the governor, the court documents state..Then the governors and members who had fled the meeting room were physically prevented from returning and required security assistance to retrieve personal belongings, it is claimed..Before exiting the AGM, the chairman adjourned the AGM due to safety concerns. As a result of the interference and intimidation by Hinman and supporters, the WIPA will need to convene a further AGM to properly conduct the business of the society, requiring the expenditure of duplicate costs of the original AGM, it is claimed..On Monday, in an exclusive phone interview with the Western Standard, Hinman said he will appeal the court's decision removing him as leader..READ MORE: Hinman officially ousted as leader of Wildrose Party.A Court of King's Bench justice reviewed all the submissions and evidence and rendered a judgment on October 21 that upheld the suspension, and subsequent removal from leadership. This includes the awarding of all costs for the proceedings to the WIPA.."My lawyer took the stance that this is about following the bylaws and the natural rule of law which they failed to do," Hinman said..However, the new interim leader of the WIPA, Jeevan Mangat, said he believes Hinman is lying.."Paul was saying that the judge broke the rule of law, I don't know of any judge that breaks the rule of law," Mangat said.."Judges are put in place to enforce the law and that statement saying the judge broke the law ... is completely false and the judge ruled in our favour because our Board of Governors followed the bylaws. That's what the judge said. If we would have broken any bylaws, I'm sure the judge would have not ruled in our favour and that's why he's awarding us the costs for proceedings. The judge was very clear in his judgment, and that's why he ruled in our favour."
