SISTER ICEE SEEKS $1 MILLION FOR RAID ON HEMP B.C.

Shelly Francis, a.k.a. Sister Icee, wanted an apology and $20,000 in
damages from city hall. She didn't get it, and now she is suing the city
for $1 million.

Francis's lawyer filed the writ yesterday in connection with a police raid
on her Hemp B.C. store in Vancouver. The raid was based on a warrant naming
as owners ``Marc Emery and person or persons unknown.''

But Emery has sold Francis the store.

The city knew Emery no longer owned it, said Francis's lawyer Brent Lokash
of Jonathan Baker and Associates.

The writ was filed after Lokash failed to get a reply to his May 1 request
for an apology and damages.

Lokash says linking his client to Emery is defamatory.

``It's not frivolous in any sense,'' he said. ``It connects our clients
with Marc Emery, who was alleged by the police and the city to have been
engaged in criminal activities.

``In our opinion, that affected the police action in getting the search
warrant.

``[Former prime minister] Brian Mulroney sued for $50 million and at the
time his reputation was a lot worse than our client's is right now in the
city and he settled for $2 million. I don't think it's outrageous at all.''