San Diego : Witt Settles Defamation Suit

City Atty. John Witt has settled a defamation lawsuit filed by his opponent in last year’s municipal election, former San Diego City Councilman Michael Schaefer.

Schaefer contended that Witt defamed him in statements made during the campaign regarding the former councilman’s ownership of dilapidated housing and his conduct as a lawyer.

Witt said Friday that his insurance company made the $12,500 payment to settle the case despite his insistence that he had not defamed Schaefer.

“They try to cut their losses by settling even very speculative lawsuits,” Witt said. Some of his statements about Schaefer were simply true, he said, and others were defensible as opinion, and thus not subject to defamation claims.

Schaefer said he agreed to settle the case because, “It’s the duty of lawyers to be peacemakers if they can.”

But Schaefer, a frequent candidate for office, said he was serious in filing the suit. “I looked forward to taking it to trial,” he said.

Witt, though outspent by the challenger, defeated Schaefer in a landslide in the June, 1984, election.