2018 June 8

McLaughlin v Maynard, 2018 ONSC 3605

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice dismissed a counterclaim by the defendant alleging the plaintiff mayor defamed him in a comment published in an online newspaper concerning the dismissal of the defendant’s lawsuit against a town councillor (and the town) concerning the councillor’s ability to sit on council.  The Court held that “the statements in the post are substantially true” and that the mayor “has made out the defence of fair comment.”  “I find that the comments are recognizable as comment and that a reasonable person could honestly express such comments based on those facts.”