Articles about Defamation Law

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In the News – Online Obscenity

Toronto Internet Lawyer discussed the legality of posting the Luka Magnotta video on the Best Gore website with the national and international media. Mr. Zvulony took the position that the posting of the video violated Canada's obscenity laws.
photo by Garry Knight
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Defamation Apologies

Should a person who defamed someone apologize publicly? What are the potential legal benefits and risks to making such apologies?

Defamation Defences – Qualified Privilege

Qualified privilege allows an otherwise defamatory publication to escape civil liability, if the person who made the defamatory expression had a duty to communicate, and the person who received it had a corresponding duty to receive the information.  It is based upon the idea that there are some things the public needs to know, and that the importance of expressing such knowledge may outweigh the protection of a particular person’s reputation.
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Defamation Defences – Fair Comment

The defence of fair comment allows for the free expression of opinions on matters of public interest.
By Pete O'Shea [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Responsible Communication

Defaming someone in a publication may be allowed by the courts if it's in the public interest and the author was diligent in their reporting.
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Overview of Ontario’s anti-SLAPP Law

Ontario has an anti-SLAPP law intended to encourage expression and debate on matters of public interest, by discouraging meritless lawsuits meant to stifle that expression.
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Winning Result: Anti-SLAPP Motion Dismissed

Defamation Lawyer, Gil Zvulony successfully defended an Anti-SLAPP that involved postings about a real estate agent on WeChat.
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Legality of Challenges and Pranks Online

Toronto Internet lawyer discusses the law with respect to online pranks and challenges.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the House of CommonsCreative Commons

Defamation Law, Strategic Lawsuits, and Politics

Toronto Defamation lawyer Gil Zvulony spoke recently with the CBC about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's threat of defamation proceedings against opposition leader Andrew Scheer. Mr. Zvulony thought that Trudeau's faced an uphill battle in court and any lawsuit in Ontario would likely get dismissed under Ontario's anti-Gag Proceedings law.
By Blogtrepreneur (Legal Gavel & Closed Law Book) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
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Winning Result in the Court of Appeal

Toronto Defamation Lawyer Gil Zvulony successfully represented Ben Rabidoux, a defendant in the Ontario Court of Appeal, in a precedent setting case that was one of the first to test Ontario's anti-SLAPP legislation (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) in the courts.
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Defamation in the Workplace

What are the legal repercussions when someone is the subject of a false and damaging statement in the workplace. Are there any special considerations that apply to the workplace?