Highland Park Activist Sues Pastor and Mayoral Candidate Over Defamation Claims
A lawsuit has been filed in Oakland County Circuit Court by Highland Park activist Robert Davis, alleging that pastor Solomon Kinloch Jr. and mayoral candidate defamed him during a recent debate.
According to the lawsuit, Kinloch falsely claimed that Davis was a "covert operative" for Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield's campaign. The claim came after a series of stories published by Metro Times, which exposed delinquent water bills and controversial property deals involving Reverend Kinloch and his Triumph Church.
During a televised mayoral debate on October 15, Kinloch made the defamatory statement without providing any evidence to support it. He claimed that Davis was working with Sheffield's campaign to "dig up dirt" on her, allegedly in exchange for money.
Davis denies the allegations, stating that Kinloch fabricated them as a desperate attempt to revive his struggling mayoral campaign. The lawsuit claims that Kinloch made the false and defamatory statements with actual malice, revealing a clear animus towards Davis due to their past conflicts over Reverend Kinloch's convictions and fraudulent real-estate transactions.
The case has sparked controversy in Detroit politics, with Sheffield leading the mayoral race according to recent surveys. Kinloch's campaign has declined to comment on the allegations, but Davis is seeking at least $250,000 in damages as a result of Kinloch's "false and defamatory statements."
Additionally, Davis is also suing Triumph Church over its purchase and sale of a property in Oakland Township, claiming that the transaction was fraudulent. The church purchased the property for $841,600 in 2013 and later sold it to Reverend Kinloch for the same price in 2014. Davis alleges that Kinloch failed to disclose who paid the remaining $210,000.
The case highlights the increasingly contentious nature of Detroit politics, with several high-profile candidates facing allegations of wrongdoing over their business dealings and personal conduct.
A lawsuit has been filed in Oakland County Circuit Court by Highland Park activist Robert Davis, alleging that pastor Solomon Kinloch Jr. and mayoral candidate defamed him during a recent debate.
According to the lawsuit, Kinloch falsely claimed that Davis was a "covert operative" for Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield's campaign. The claim came after a series of stories published by Metro Times, which exposed delinquent water bills and controversial property deals involving Reverend Kinloch and his Triumph Church.
During a televised mayoral debate on October 15, Kinloch made the defamatory statement without providing any evidence to support it. He claimed that Davis was working with Sheffield's campaign to "dig up dirt" on her, allegedly in exchange for money.
Davis denies the allegations, stating that Kinloch fabricated them as a desperate attempt to revive his struggling mayoral campaign. The lawsuit claims that Kinloch made the false and defamatory statements with actual malice, revealing a clear animus towards Davis due to their past conflicts over Reverend Kinloch's convictions and fraudulent real-estate transactions.
The case has sparked controversy in Detroit politics, with Sheffield leading the mayoral race according to recent surveys. Kinloch's campaign has declined to comment on the allegations, but Davis is seeking at least $250,000 in damages as a result of Kinloch's "false and defamatory statements."
Additionally, Davis is also suing Triumph Church over its purchase and sale of a property in Oakland Township, claiming that the transaction was fraudulent. The church purchased the property for $841,600 in 2013 and later sold it to Reverend Kinloch for the same price in 2014. Davis alleges that Kinloch failed to disclose who paid the remaining $210,000.
The case highlights the increasingly contentious nature of Detroit politics, with several high-profile candidates facing allegations of wrongdoing over their business dealings and personal conduct.
The whole thing just feels like a big mess! A lawsuit is one thing, but come on, can't they all just keep it civil? 
I mean, Davis is suing Kinloch for defamation, but then he's also suing Triumph Church over some shady real estate deal. It's like, what's next? Lawsuits left and right! 
And don't even get me started on the whole 'covert operative' thing... that's just a big ol' red flag 
. I swear, in today's world, it's all about who can spin their story the best, not the truth. 
Can we just focus on finding solutions instead of throwing shade? 
david vs goliath situation is pretty entertaining tho... solomon kinloch shouldve just stuck to talking about his church stuff instead of trying to come for robert davis like that 
it's not like robert davis is exactly the poster child for integrity himself, all these water bills and property deals are kinda shady, but hey, at least he's not a pastor who thinks he can just make up crazy claims about people and get away with it 
also, Davis is suing Triumph Church over some shady property deals too... that does sound fishy. but at the same time, Kinloch's campaign isn't commenting on this, so maybe they're trying to stay under the radar 
The fact that Sheffield's leading in the polls isn't going to save her from getting sued over some nasty comments.
. i mean, pastor kinloch Jr. and mayoral candidate making false claims against activist robert davis? that's some serious drama 
. and the thing is, it's not just about the money, it's about the reputations on the line 
. but what really gets me is how this case highlights the darker side of politics - the corruption and the greed 
. like in The Wolf of Wall Street when Jordan Belfort goes wild, but i guess we're watching a real-life drama unfold here 
. anyway, gotta keep an eye on this one 
"The truth is rarely pure and never simple." 
. First off, I'm all for holding people accountable for their actions, but in this case, I think Kinloch's claims against Davis are pretty weak 
. But instead of owning up to his mistakes and apologizing, he decides to attack someone else who's trying to expose the truth? No thanks 
. We need more transparency and honesty in our politicians, imo 
.