2019 May 15

Blanchet c. Puribec inc., 2019 QCCQ 3141

The Quebec Court (Civil Chamber) awarded $1,000 non‐pecuniary defamation damages to the defendant Puribec inc. for its counterclaim arising from an unfavourable review posted by the plaintiffs Blanchet and Lapointe on the “Reviews” section of the defendant’s business Facebook page as well as certain negative comments.  The Court held that nine friends or close relatives of the plaintiffs had added unfavorable comments to the same Facebook page although they had never been customers of the defendant.  Each plaintiff was also ordered to pay $500 punitive damages.