Ontario Court Awards Higher Damages for Online Defamation

In a recent defamation case involving false statements published on a number of websites, the Ontario Superior Court awarded damages and legal costs to the successful plaintiffs significantly greater in total than if the defamation had not been so published. In the court's view, the potential size of the audience and the worldwide and instantaneous nature of the Internet played a part in deciding the quantum of damages, indicating that defamatory statements posted online might lead to increased damages compared to using offline channels. The name of the case is Reichman v. Berlin, Ontario Superior Court (July 8, 2002, Court File No. 01-CV-208832). To read a summary of the case prepared by the CLE Society of British Columbia, visit: http://makeashorterlink.com/?Y19022661