John Letnik won't set sail without a fight, as the embattled owner of the eponymous Captain John's has launched a $1.2 million counter lawsuit against the Toronto Port Authority in an effort to prevent his ship from being sent to salvage.

Back in June 2012, the Toronto Port Authority rescinded the floating restaurant's lease and the City of Toronto turned off its water supply on account of the (well) over $500,000 Letnik owed in unpaid rent and back taxes. In October of 2013, city council voted to evict the Captain from his ship.

Letnik claims that the TPA's refusal to grant a long term lease to the ship has undermined his ability to sell it, a point which is backed up by the fact that a Vaughan tycoon did make a bid for the ship, but refused to close the deal in the absence of a long term lease being offered on the slip where the Jadran is docked.

Before one thinks that Letnik's lawsuit will hold water, however, it's worth noting that according to the Toronto Star he's decided to represent himself in upcoming legal proceedings, which lends an air of farce to what otherwise sounds like at least a rational case. So the Captain fights on, furiously bailing his ship single-handedly.

Photo by endekl in the blogTO Flickr pool.