A developer filed a defamation lawsuit Tuesday against the city of Anoka, its mayor, his brother and a nonprofit park society with which they have been affiliated.

Minneapolis developer Mark McGowan had discussed restoring an old downtown amphitheater on the Rum River with Mayor Bjorn Skogquist and his brother, Erik Skogquist, who is president of Windego Park Society and is running for mayor this fall. Bjorn Skogquist founded Windego more than a decade ago. The complaint was filed in Anoka County District Court.

The lawsuit said the Skogquists had misled McGowan by saying that the City Council and Planning Commission had approved the amphitheater redevelopment and that Windego had funds to pay him. McGowan told the planning commission on June 3 that Windego's renovation plan was not feasible because structural changes might be needed, which would require city and state approvals. The commission then rejected the plan.

The civil suit, which seeks more than $50,000 in damages, alleges that City Manager Tim Cruikshank shredded documents that Erik Skogquist displayed at a City Council meeting in June. Skogquist implied that the documents showed McGowan was dishonest, the suit says.

On Tuesday, Cruikshank denied that any shredding occurred. "We have those documents on file here," he said. He wouldn't comment further or say what the documents contained.

McGowan appeared at a June 16 City Council meeting, where Erik Skogquist tried to get council approval for the Windego renovation plan. The suit alleges that Bjorn Skogquist gave his brother incomplete, unfair information that Erik Skogquist used to defame McGowan at the meeting. Erik Skogquist said McGowan Development had dropped out of a pavilion restoration project in Norwood Young America, leaving the city holding a costly bag, the complaint said.

While making such statements, Erik Skogquist "held documents in his hand that he claimed, to the City Council and those present ... showed that McGowan was dishonest," the suit said. It said Skogquist didn't discuss what the documents contained but gave them to the city attorney at the meeting.

Bjorn Skogquist, who is running for an Anoka County Board seat, said he would have no comment until he could see the lawsuit.

McGowan declined to comment. He referred a call to his attorney, Richard A. Williams Jr., who didn't return calls.

Given that he is running for mayor, Erik Skogquist said, "the timing is interesting." He added: "It probably would be wise for me not to say anything at this point."

Jim Adams • 612-673-7658