2016 December 12

Este v. Blackburn, 2016 BCCA 496

The British Columbia Court of Appeal noted that in her defamation action, the plaintiff claimed that the defendant family members defamed her in letters or emails to various persons, including governmental and quasi-governmental authorities. Among other things, the plaintiff asserts that one defendant made false statements to a police detective.The Court of Appeal held that the plaintiff was entitled to an order that the police department make available a transcript of their interview with that defendant, pursuant to Rule 7-1(18) of the Supreme Court Civil Rules. The Court noted that the transcript will be the best evidence of what was said by the defendant to the police. The defendant had no expectation of privacy in the statement he made to the police.