Vexatious litigant Steve Maynard seeks to renew court battle with Mississippi Mills
Facing $30,000 in legal bills following a court order that branded him a “vexatious litigant,” Almonte resident and former mayoral candidate Steve Maynard is seeking to renew his court battle with the municipality of Mississippi Mills.
Superior Court Justice Jaye Hooper granted the municipality’s request to declare Maynard vexatious in an April ruling, which was filed by township solicitors in 2021 in the midst of a protracted court battle.
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The judge’s ruling cited 23 separate proceedings that Maynard had pursued against the municipality — primarily challenges to municipal planning decisions and bylaws — through various courts and tribunals.
Each of those cases was dismissed, according to the judge’s order, with the exception of a “slip and fall” lawsuit still making its way through small claims court.
As a vexatious litigant, Maynard was instructed that he must obtain permission from the court prior to bringing any further lawsuits or legal proceedings against the municipality, its employees or agents.
The judge also ordered Maynard to pay the municipality’s legal costs, which were set at $30,000 in a separate court ruling in July.
Maynard has since sought the court’s permission to appeal that decision, along with appealing the judgment that declared him a vexatious litigant, while renewing several other challenges to the municipality’s bylaws.
“I did file a notice of application seeking the court’s permission to institute new proceedings and continue existing proceedings as per Justice Hooper’s decision,” Maynard said in an email last week. “This is all I am permitted to do right now.”
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According to Maynard’s application, he is seeking permission to continue two matters in divisional court and a third case in Superior Court, to initiate appeals in two civil lawsuits and is seeking an order permitting him to “quash” three municipal bylaws.
He is also seeking “an order permitting me to file a complaint with the Mississippi Mills Integrity Commissioner on the conduct of all members of council.”
In a statement issued after the initial court order declaring Maynard vexatious, Mississippi Mills Mayor Christa Lowry said the years-long litigation was “a burden” to council, staff and the township’s taxpayers.
“This has been a long, exasperating, and expensive road for the municipality and our residents,” Lowry said at the time. “Due judicial process and access to information are fundamental to the democratic process. This individual, who sees himself as ‘somewhat of a gatekeeper’ regarding planning decisions, has abused these processes.”
The township had sought “substantial indemnity costs” of more than $53,000 from Maynard, while Maynard took the position that no costs should be ordered against him.
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Hooper assessed legal costs at $30,000, which, she noted in her decision, “are proportional and fair under all of the circumstances.
“Here, we have a self-represented individual who was faced with an offer to consent to a judgment declaring himself a vexatious litigant. As I found in my decision, Mr. Maynard truly believes he is acting in the best interest of his community. The judgment offered by Mississippi Mills flies in the face of Mr. Maynard’s genuine belief.”
Maynard was given 90 days to pay the legal costs, but has since sought permission to appeal that decision.