TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface ...... P-1 Table of Cases ...... TC-1

INTRODUCTION IN:10 Overview ...... INT-1 IN:20 What is ? ...... INT-3 IN:30 What is the Difference Between Libel and Slander? ...... INT-12 IN:40 Innuendo: Do Words Have to be Defamatory in Their Primary Meaning in Order to be Actionable?...... INT-14 IN:50 Publication: At What Time is a Libel Committed? ...... INT-18 IN:60 Where is a Libel Committed? ...... INT-19 IN:70 Criminal Libel: Can There be Criminal as Well as Civil Consequences to a Libel? ...... INT-22

Chapter 1 THE PLAINTIFF 1:10 When can a Corporation sue or be sued for Defamation?...... 1-1 1:20 Can Associations and Trade Unions sue and be sued for Defamation?...... 1-4 1:30 What is the Position of Groups or Classes of Persons who may Consider Themselves to Have Been Libelled?...... 1-8 1:40 What Significance is There to Whether the Person Defamed is Living or Dead? ...... 1-11 1:50 What can be Said About a Person’s Business and Trade? ...... 1-12

Chapter 2 THE DEFENDANT 2:10 Intention: Does it Matter That a Person Publishing a Libel did not Intend to Defame Anyone?...... 2-1 2:20 Malice: Can the Mere Telling of an Untruth About a Person Result in Liability? ...... 2-3 2:30 Repetition: Is it a Defence to an Allegation of Libel That the Publisher was Only Repeating Words Uttered by Others?...... 2-4 2:40 Who is Responsible for a Published Libel? ...... 2-7 2:50 What Right Does a Publisher Have to Refuse to Print a Libel Submitted for Publication by an Author or Advertiser? ...... 2-13

C-1 September 2016 CANADIAN DEFAMATION LAW AND PRACTICE

Chapter 3 MEDIA DEFENDANTS 3:10 Right of Retraction ...... 3-1 3:20 Letters to the Editor and Guest Editorials...... 3-1

Chapter 4 DEFENCES 4:10 When is a Publisher Entitled to Print Defamatory Material?...... 4-1 4:20 What is “Justification”? ...... 4-1 4:30 What is “Fair Comment”?...... 4-6 4:40 What is the “Public Interest” Required for the Defence of Fair Comment? ...... 4-11 4:50 Is There any Special Position With Respect to Public Figures?..... 4-12 4:60 Privilege: Are There Occasions Whose Special Character Protects Statements Published on Those Occasions? ...... 4-16 4:60.10 Absolute Privilege ...... 4-16 4:60.20 Qualified Privilege ...... 4-23 4:60.30 Periodicals and Newspapers ...... 4-32.2 4:60.40 The United Kingdom Reynolds Privilege and Media Defendants ...... 4-32.3 4:60.50 Development in — Defence of Responsible Communication On Matters of Public Interest...... 4-32.4 4:70 Negligent Publication...... 4-32.8 4:80 Republication of Privileged Statements...... 4-32.9 4:90 Consent or Authorization...... 4-34

Chapter 5 REMEDIES 5:10 Apology...... 5-1 5:20 Injunctions...... 5-5 5:30 Damages...... 5-15

Chapter 6 LITIGATING A DEFAMATION ACTION 6:10 Statutory Notices and Limitation Periods...... 6-2 6:10.10 Who is Entitled to Notice?...... 6-5 6:10.20 Contents of the Notice and Practice Considerations ...... 6-8 6:10.30 Service and Timing of the Notice ...... 6-9 6:10.40 Motions to Strike where no Notice...... 6-11 6:10.50 Notice to the CBC and Crown ...... 6-11 6:10.60 Limitation Periods Re Newspapers and Broadcasts...... 6-12 6:10.70 Single Publication Rule and the Internet ...... 6-13 6:10.80 General Limitation Periods ...... 6-15 6:20 Pleadings: Statement of Claim ...... 6-15 6:20.10 Importance of Pleadings in Defamation Actions ...... 6-15 6:20.20 Presumptions ...... 6-16 6:20.30 Publication ...... 6-16

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6:20.40 Defamatory Communication ...... 6-16.2 6:20.40.10 Pleading the Entire Article and Books ...... 6-16.3 6:20.40.20 Audio-Visual Broadcasts and Motion Pictures...... 6-17 6:20.50 Pleading the Defamatory Meaning...... 6-18 6:20.60 Where the Plaintiff is not Named in the Defamatory Communication...... 6-20 6:20.70 Damages ...... 6-20 6:20.80 Jurisdiction and Place of Trial...... 6-21 6:30 Pleadings: Statement of Defence ...... 6-23 6:30.10 Introduction ...... 6-23 6:30.20 Justification ...... 6-24 6:30.20.10 Polly Peck: Justifying the Defendants’ Meaning...... 6-26 6:30.20.20 Partial Plea of Justification ...... 6-29 6:30.30 Fair Comment and the Rolled-up Plea...... 6-30 6:30.40 Privilege ...... 6-31 6:30.50 Consent or Authorization ...... 6-32 6:30.60 Jest and Implied Facts...... 6-32 6:30.70 Pleading The Charter of Rights ...... 6-34 6:30.80 Mitigation of Damages ...... 6-36 6:40 Security for Costs...... 6-40 6:50 Reply ...... 6-43 6:60 Discovery...... 6-44 6:60.10 Different from Other Actions?...... 6-44 6:60.20 Documentary Production...... 6-46 6:60.30 Plaintiff’s Discovery of the Defendant...... 6-47 6:60.40 Defendant’s Discovery of the Plaintiff...... 6-49 6:70 Evidence at Trial ...... 6-51 6:70.10 Burden of Proof and Presumptions...... 6-53 6:70.20 Evidence for the Plaintiff ...... 6-54 6:70.20.10 Publication ...... 6-54 6:70.20.20 Identification of the Plaintiff...... 6-55 6:70.20.30 Proof of Defamatory Meaning ...... 6-56 6:70.20.40 Evidence of Reputation and Damages ...... 6-59 6:70.30 Evidence for the Defendant...... 6-60 6:70.30.10 Proof of Justification...... 6-60 6:70.30.20 Proof of Privilege...... 6-60.1 6:70.30.30 Proof of Fair Comment...... 6-60.2 6:70.40 Evidence in Mitigation of Damages ...... 6-61 6:70.40.10 The Plaintiff’s Poor Reputation or Imprudence ...... 6-62 6:70.40.20 Apology and Retraction ...... 6-64 6:70.40.30 The Defendant’s State of Mind ...... 6-65 6:70.40.40 Other Statutory Provisions in Mitigation of Damages ...... 6-65 6:70.50 Reply Evidence ...... 6-66 6:70.50.10 Proof of Malice ...... 6-66 C-3 September 2016 CANADIAN DEFAMATION LAW AND PRACTICE

6:70.60 Motion for Non-Suit ...... 6-68 6:80 Forum/Juries...... 6-69 6:80.10 Proper Court and Convenient Forum ...... 6-69 6:80.20 Jury or Non-Jury Action ...... 6-72 6:80.30 Functions of Judge and Jury in Defamation Actions...... 6-73 6:80.40 Jury Addresses ...... 6-76 6:80.50 Jury Charge and Verdicts...... 6-79

Chapter 7 CONTEMPT OF COURT 7:10 When may Published Material Constitute Contempt of Court? ...... 7-1 7:20 The Integrity of the Judicial Process ...... 7-2 7:30 The Right to a Fair Trial ...... 7-2.1 7:40 Other Considerations ...... 7-6

Chapter 8 SOURCES 8:10 Generally...... 8-1

Chapter 9 FICTION 9:10 Introduction...... 9-1 9:20 Identification...... 9-1 9:30 Humour, Satire and Irony...... 9-2

Chapter 10 THE INTERNET 10:10 The Effect of the Internet on Defamation...... 10-1 10:20 Liability of Internet Service Providers ...... 10-1 10:30 The Internet and the Definition of Broadcast ...... 10-6.1 10:40 The World Wide Web and the Issue of Jurisdiction...... 10-7 10:50 Anonymous Defendants...... 10-12

Chapter 11 11:10 Special Comments Regarding the Province of Quebec ...... 11-1 11:20 The Elements of Defamation in Quebec ...... 11-2 11:20.10 Injury...... 11-2 11:20.20 Fault...... 11-3 11:20.30 Causal Connection ...... 11-4 11:30 Defences to Defamation in Quebec ...... 11-4 11:40 Conclusion Regarding Quebec ...... 11-4

Chapter 12 DEFAMATION LAW AND THE CHARTER 12:10 Introduction...... 12-1 12:20 Freedom of Expression Before the Charter ...... 12-3 12:30 The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms ...... 12-5

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12:40 Hill v. Church of Scientology ...... 12-6 12:50 Upsetting the Balance: Developments in the World...... 12-10 12:50.10 England...... 12-10 12:50.20 Australia ...... 12-13 12:50.30 New Zealand ...... 12-14 12:60 The Trilogy: WIC Radio, Grant and Quan...... 12-14.1 12:60.10 WIC Radio Ltd. v. Simpson ...... 12-14.1 12:60.20 Quan v. Cusson ...... 12-17 12:60.30 Grant v. Torstar Corp...... 12-20 12:70 Conclusion...... 12-26

Chapter 13 RELATED ACTIONS 13:10 Introduction...... 13-1 13:20 Injurious or Malicious Falsehood or Slander of Goods ...... 13-1 13:30 Intentional Interference and Inducing Breach of Contract...... 13-4 13:40 Conspiracy and ...... 13-6 13:50 Intentional Infliction of Mental Suffering ...... 13-7 13:60 Abuse of Process ...... 13-9 13:70 of Intrusion Upon Seclusion ...... 13-10

APPENDICES LITIGATION PRECEDENTS Appendix A — SAMPLE DEFAMATION NOTICE ...... APA-1 Appendix B — SAMPLE STATEMENT OF CLAIM ...... APB-1 Appendix C — SAMPLE STATEMENT OF DEFENCE ...... APC-1 Appendix D — SAMPLE REPLY...... APD-1 RELEVANT STATUTORY PROVISIONS Appendix E — ALBERTA ...... APE-1 Appendix F — BRITISH COLUMBIA ...... APF-1 Appendix G — MANITOBA ...... APG-1 Appendix H — NEW BRUNSWICK ...... APH-1 Appendix I — NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR ...... API-1 Appendix J — NORTHWEST TERRITORIES...... APJ-1 Appendix K — NOVA SCOTIA ...... APK-1 Appendix L — NUNAVUT...... APL-1 Appendix M — ONTARIO ...... APM-1 Appendix N — PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND ...... APN-1 Appendix O — QUEBEC ...... APO-1 Appendix P — SASKATCHEWAN ...... APP-1 Appendix Q — YUKON ...... APQ-1

C-5 November 2016 CANADIAN DEFAMATION LAW AND PRACTICE

DEFAMATION QUANTUM TABLE ...... Q-1 I. Internet (Excluding E-mails)...... Q-3 II. Letter (Including E-mails) ...... Q-35 III. Mass Media Newspaper...... Q-59 IV. Mass Media Radio ...... Q-71 V. Mass Media Television/Film ...... Q-75 VI. Public Statement(s)...... Q-81 VII. Print Publication (Including CD-ROM)...... Q-89 VIII. Republication...... Q-95 IX. Telecommunication...... Q-105 X. Other...... Q-109

Index ...... IN-1

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