2020 March 12
Digital Sharp Technologies Inc v. Mikulec, 2020 QCCS 691
The Quebec Superior Court dismissed defamation claims over comments on RateMyEmployer.ca and Glassdoor.ca posted by the defendant, an ex-employee. Promptly after receiving a cease and desist letter from the plaintiffs’ lawyers, the defendant took effective steps to have the impugned comments taken down by the websites. Evaluating the defendant’s comments in their context, rather than from the point of view of the plaintiffs, the Court held that they were not defamatory despite being negative and disagreeable. Elements of exaggeration and hyperbole did not make the comments on the internet libelous.