A defamation lawsuit between Port Huron City Manager James Freed and an international organization representing municipal managers has been settled. The International City/County Management Association in 2022 publicly reprimanded Freed and stripped him of his ICMA credentials due to comments he made about not mandating the COVID-19 vaccine for city employees. According to a statement made by the ICMA Friday, the organization’s board found that Freed did not violate or refuse to enforce any existing law. The parties settled out of court, under terms that the ICMA says will remain confidential. Freed said he’s grateful to the organization for taking action.
