2019 April 15

Pullano v. Hinder, 2019 ONSC 2362

In this case, an Ontario Superior Court jury awarded $50,000 damages to the defendant on his counterclaim against the plaintiff for defamation.  The trial judge noted that the jury had found 31 instances of defamation by the plaintiff who called into question that integrity of the plaintiff and sought to sully his name by attacks on social media.  The Court stated: “Social media attacks on individuals have become all too commonplace in recent years. They are evidently an inexpensive method by which motivated individuals are able to launch distant but personal attacks on others with aplomb and apparent disregard for the consequences … [the plaintiff’s] online campaign against the Defendants serves as an unfortunate example of how communication by social media often deteriorate into irresponsible comment and uncivilized dialogue between individual citizens on matters of public and private interest.”