Oakland City Councilwoman Desley Brooks (right) has sued the SF Chron and columnist Chip Johnson (left), saying she was defamed by a column that said she was suspected in 2006 of receiving kickbacks for hiring a city employee. Brooks said the Chronicle printed the June 24, 2006 column to try to damage her chances at re-election, which she won. The Chron quoted its editor, Ward Bushee, as saying: “We have only just received a copy of the complaint and have not had time to do a complete review of its contents.” The statute of limitations for libel in California is one year. However, Johnson’s 2006 column cannot be found in the Chronicle’s archives.