2026 September 2

Murdy v. Barrette, 2026 ONSC 5035

On a motion for default judgment by two plaintiffs in a defamation action, the Court awarded $350,000 in general damages to each plaintiff plus punitive damages payable to the plaintiffs in the total amount of $100,000.   The Court noted that “the incidents underlying the statement of claim commenced with the defendant’s false allegations about the plaintiffs to the Ontario Provincial Police.  The plaintiffs were criminally charged.  When those charges were withdrawn, the defendant commenced a public campaign of defamatory allegations against the plaintiffs.”  The relevant facts deemed to be admitted included the allegations that the defamatory statements were made to third parties on social media, by text messages, and verbally.