A lawsuit against Druh Farrell is now demanding the Ward 7 councillor pay her own legal bills and be prohibited from running in the looming municipal election “until her debt to the City of Calgary is fully repaid.”

In response to a recently filed “reply to defence” from the former owners of an Italian restaurant who are suing the councillor — and several others — Farrell once again emphasized she believes the lawsuit is designed to harm her reputation.

She called it “politically motivated and an abuse of the court,” as evidenced by the fact the latest information was sent to media outlets before it reached Farrell.

“It is a flagrant attempt to influence the election and to prevent me from representing my constituents. The use of the court to silence democratic representation is deeply troubling,” Farrell said in a statement released Thursday.

A statement of claim filed in May by a numbered company, linked to the Terrigno family that owned the Osteria de Medici restaurant in Kensington, accuses the inner-city councillor of “systematically” flouting her public duties, defamation and interference with a land-use application in Kensington.

It seeks Farrell’s removal from office and $211,535 in damages.

None of the allegations have been proven in court and, in a five-page statement of defence filed June 9, Farrell denied any wrongdoing, saying the action was brought “at a time designed to have a negative impact on the Defendant’s reputation shortly prior to a municipal election.”