2018 June 26

Gagné c. Fortin,  2018 QCCQ 4470

The Quebec Court (Civil Chamber) dismissed a defamation action over Facebook comments.  There was no evidence concerning the identity of people who became aware of the words alleged to be defamatory or the effect of those words on them.  In the opinion of the Court, no ordinary citizen reading the words published by the defendants on Facebook and not aware of the extrinsic facts would understand anything.  There was no cause and effect.  Moreover, the numerous mistakes in the typed text added to the incomprehension.  This case simply involved the clumsy expression of  a negative opinion.