2017 October 25

Houseman v. RateMDs Inc., 2017 SKQB 321

The Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench made a Norwich order, on application by the plaintiff dentist, requiring RateMDs Inc. to release specific information, including IP addresses that would allow the plaintiff to identify the person or persons who posted anonymous reviews on the RateMDs Inc. website. The Court noted that the plaintiff dentist had “provided evidence sufficient to raise a valid, bona fide and reasonable claim.  He has produced copies of the reviews, he has sworn that the identified statements are untrue, and he has described the negative effect of the statements on him and his practice.”  “[The dentist] has established that RateMDs Inc. is involved in the reviews, in that the reviews were posted on the website of RateMDs Inc.  RateMDs Inc. maintains that website for the purpose of enabling people to post reviews of medical professionals.”  The Court did not consider it appropriate to require the dentist or RateMDs Inc. to give notice of this application for disclosure to the anonymous poster.