Organizer accused of Zoom theft by O’Toole campaign suing former Tory leader

Jamie Lall launched his $2-million lawsuit against O'Toole and other members of his campaign team who, according to court filings, are due to appear for questioning in June.

The organizer Erin O’Toole named in a complaint about an alleged theft of Zoom materials more than two years ago is suing the former Conservative leader and demanding an apology, saying his name has been dragged through the mud.

Jamie Lall served as an organizer for the leadership campaign of Peter MacKay, the runner-up in the 2020 leadership race that saw O’Toole crowned the victor.

That summer, months after the contest was turned upside down by the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, O’Toole tweeted a statement that his campaign was filing a complaint with police alleging MacKay’s camp had stolen “confidential data and strategy,” including recordings of Zoom video calls with party members.

O’Toole’s statement specifically named Lall, who is a Calgary-based organizer, as the one who obtained the login information used to download the information – an allegation he continues to deny.

The RCMP confirmed last year that two people had been charged in the matter, but neither of the individuals named were Lall. Police spokeswoman Robin Percival says its investigation has since concluded and the file is closed.

In an interview with The Canadian Press, Lall says the allegation against him has hung over him “like a dark cloud.”

“It’s brutal, right? It does carry a stigma,” he said.

“You become known as, ‘Oh, you’re the guy who hacked some accounts and some Zoom videos.’ You can only deny it so many times.”