Internet as a medium for defamation

2009-01-01

INTERNETASAMEDIUMFORDEFAMATION

LAURENTCARRIÈREANDMICHAELCHAN-PENG*
LEGERROBICRICHARD,
LLP
L
AWYERS,ANDPATENTANDTRADE-MARKAGENTS

Abstract
InadecisionrenderedlastJuly9,2009inRawdon(Municipalitéde)v.Leblanc
(Solo),[2009QCSC2151)theQuebecSuperiorCourt,throughRicherJ.provided
anotherexampleofsomelimitationtofreespeechinthecontextofdefamationof
publicfigures.
Facts
Followingthepublicationofseveral“strong”messagesinanonlinediscussionforum
dedicatedtopoliticalissuesinRawdon(amunicipalityof10,000populationinSouth
WesternQuebec),itsmayor,itsgeneralmanagerandthemunicipalityfiledagainst
thediscussionforumadministratoranditsparticipants,proceedingstostopthe
publicationofsomeaggressivemessagestargetingthecomplainants.

Thedecisionmadereferencetoaverylonglistofquestionableanddefamatory
sentimentspostedbytheforumparticipants,includingtheadministratorhimself.All
ofthemcriticizedthemayorandthegeneralmanageraccusingthemofbriberyand
favouritism.Thedefamatorymessagesalsoincludednumerousinsultswhichwould
haveshockedtheaverageuser,suchas[translation]“liar”,“schemer”“psychopath”,
“totalcontrollingbitch”,“thewhoreofBabylon”orworse:“littlefuhrer”,“mayorSS”,
and“Stalinwouldnothavebeenworse”.

Thevirulenceoftheassertionsforcedthecomplainantstoaskforurgentand
coercivemeasures.InQuébec,anorderforinterlocutoryinjunctionisan
extraordinaryremedywhichallowstheinterventionofthecourtbeforefullhearingon
themeritsofthecase.Itisanorderofthecourtenjoiningaperson,nottodoorto

©CIPS,2009.*Lawyerandtrade-markagent,LaurentCarrière,isaseniorpartnerwithLEGERROBICRICHARD,
LLP
amultidisciplinaryfirmoflawyers,andpatentandtrade-markagents.MichaelChan-Pengisa
foreigninternwiththefirm.Publishedinthe2009-09-17issueofWorldMediaLawReport.
Publication328.073.

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ceasedoingor,incaseswhichcallforit,toperformaparticularactoroperation,or
facestifflegalsanctions(includingfineandimprisonment).

Inordertoobtainsuchaninterlocutoryinjunctionthecomplainantmustmeeta
three-prongtest:i)anappearanceofrightand/oraseriousquestiontobetriedii)a
seriousanirreparableharmthatmonetarydamagescannotcompensateandiii)that
thebalanceofinconveniencesweightsinhisfavour.

Discussion
Indeterminingwhethertheinterlocutoryinjunctionshouldissue,JusticeRicherhad
tobalancethecompetinginterestsinherentinfreedomofspeechandtheprotection
ofone’sreputationbyfocusingontheinjunctioncriteria.

Theappearanceofrightconcernsexclusivelytherighttoone’sreputation.In
Quebec,reputationisnotonlyprotectedbysection4oftheHumanRightsand
FreedomsCharterbutalsobysection3oftheCivilCodewhichstatesthatevery
personistheholderofpersonalityrightssuchastherighttotherespectofhisname,
reputationandprivacy.

Freedomofspeechisprotectedbysection3oftheHumanRightsandFreedoms
Charterwhichstatesthateverypersonisthepossessorofthefundamental
freedoms,includingfreedomofconscience,freedomofreligion,freedomofopinion,
freedomofexpression,freedomofpeacefulassemblyandfreedomofassociation.

Byquotingarticle9.1ofthesamecharterwhichsaysthat
byexercisinghis
fundamentalfreedomsandrights,apersonshallmaintainaproperregardfor
democraticvalues,publicorderandthegeneralwell-beingofthecitizensofQuébec,
JusticeRicherinsistedonthefactthatfreedomofspeechisnotanabsoluteright.

Forinstance,inHillv.ChurchofScientologyofToronto,([1995]2S.C.R.1130)
JusticeCoryoftheSupremeCourtofCanadaopinedthat“thecommonlawstrikes
anappropriatebalancebetweenthetwinvaluesofreputationandfreedomof
expression”andinSaniquipInc.v.Nadon,2007QCCS2290JusticeCrépeauofthe
QuebecSuperiorCourtwrotethat“reputationisaclearrightwhichcannotbe
unfairlyattacked”
Therefore,JusticeRicherheldthattheappearanceofrightwassufficient.
Defendantsoversteppedtheirrightsbylosingcontroloftheirsentiments.Itwasa
sensitivemattertoughsinceplaintiffswerebothpoliticiansandaspublicactors,
politiciansmustacceptsomeexposuretocriticism.

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Nevertheless,fortheTribunal,thecontentofthemessageswentbeyondthe
reasonablecriticismthatapoliticiancanexpect.Someinsultingmessageswere
posted“justforpleasure”andwere“outofcontrol”.

Wastheinjuryirreparable?Onthisquestion,thecourtansweredyes.TheInternet
isamediumwhichfacilitatesthequickandirreparablespreadofinformation.The
infringementconcernsnotonlyboththemayorandthegeneralmanagerbutalsothe
municipalityitselfandmoreimportantly,democracy.Thisirreparableinjuryjustified
theinterlocutoryinjunction
Thebalanceofinconvenienceswasheldtobeinfavouroftheplaintiffs.Citing
againtheSupremeCourtinHill,thecourtstatesthatdefamationandreputation
infringementcouldhaveperniciousandunlimitedeffects,especiallywheninvolving
amediumastheinternet.Asstatedbythejudge,“[translation]theCourtisofthe
opinionthattheappearancethatthediscussionforumontheInternetbecamethe
drivingforceofexcessandimmoderation,theamplifierandacceleratorofthe
defamationagainsttheplaintiffsaspersonsandmunicipalitywasdemonstratedin
thiscase.”

JusticeRicheralsoopinedthattherelativesmallnessofRawdonmustbetakeninto
account.Indeed,theimpactofanattackontheInternetisallthemoreimportantthat
thelocationissmallorevenincertainisolation.

Finally,thecourtissuedthesoughtorderforinterlocutoryinjunctionandthe
impugnedisnowclosed.
Inhavingtodecidebetweenpoliticalsensitivitiesandtheextentofthecourt’s
injunctivepower,theSuperiorCourtsuccessfullywalkedafineline.

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