2017 April 17

Procam International inc. c. Matson Logistics inc., 2017 QCCS 1280

The Quebec Superior Court dismissed a defamation action by the plaintiff concerning statements posted by the defendant on an industry website which criticized the plaintiff’s performance of certain contractual obligations.  A clause in that contract gave exclusive jurisdiction to the federal or state court of California in any action brought under the contract.  The Quebec Superior Court reasoned that because the determination of the truth or falsity of the allegedly defamatory expression turned on the correct interpretation of  the contract, the courts of California had exclusive jurisdiction over the defamation claim.