Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti — known for his outbursts and controversies at city hall — is taking the integrity commissioner to court over an investigation into whether he violated the city’s code of conduct.

In December, integrity commissioner Janet Leiper launched an investigation into a $5,000-a-table fundraiser held for Mammoliti the previous May.

Mammoliti has now filed a notice of application with the province’s divisional court to quash Leiper’s original decision to investigate.

In the notice dated June 10, Mammoliti claims the complaint did not follow the proper process and took issue that his challenges were made public.

Mammoliti accused Leiper of being “unfair and biased” by not keeping his protests secret.

In a letter responding to the court action, Mammoliti called the complaint “vexatious” and also claimed the integrity commissioner had no jurisdiction over the issue.

“We believe the integrity commissioner applied extraordinary measures to investigate a personal and private event in order to support an already formed biased opinion without jurisdiction,” the letter said. “Bringing a matter such as this to the public realm is simply an attack on privacy and trying to force personal matters into the public. We are confident that there was no breach to the code of conduct.”

Leiper told the Star in an email that she is aware of the proceedings and that her office will be responding to Mammoliti’s application.

Toronto lawyer Brian Iler, who originally made the complaint in August, said Leiper has since concluded her investigation and a decision is expected any day.

Iler filed the complaint after hearing about the event at the Royalton Banquet Hall in Woodbridge from a CBC report in May. That report included a copy of the original invitation to the event sent by Mammoliti’s son, Michael.

The invitation read: “My father’s continued dedication to the Mayor and the Administration has also come at a price, making him and our family the subject of personal and political attacks on numerous occasions.”

It went on to ask for support so Mammoliti could “continue to fight the good fight at Toronto City Hall and not be held back by the financial burdens these attacks have brought on.”

Iler argued Mammoliti was in clear violation of the code of conduct, which states councillors cannot accept gifts or money related to the “performance of his or her duties.”

According to the city’s code of conduct, if Mammoliti is found to have breached the rules he could face a reprimand or lose up to 90 days of pay.

Following CBC’s earlier reports, Mammoliti responded to the Star, denying the event was in any way related to campaign fundraising. He said it was “to celebrate my recovery from my recent health concerns.” Mammoliti underwent brain surgery last spring.

The invitation itself states the family sought legal counsel to ensure there would be no “code of conduct issues.”

In December, the CBC reported Leiper had decided to investigate and published a letter between Leiper and Mammoliti’s lawyer, laying out the issues thus far and requesting a response from Mammoliti.

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Since the beginning of this council term, Mammoliti has been accused several times of violating election law. In 2010, he was accused of overspending the legal limit set out by the Municipal Elections Act.

Recently, “Re-Elect Giorgio Mammoliti” signs were spotted near Arrow Rd. and Deerhide Cres. — months before election rules allow the posting of signs.