Austin v. Torstar Corp. et al.,

• Jurisdiction: Ontario
• Court: Ontario Court of Justice General Division (Canada)
• Citation: (1997), 53 O.T.C. 90 (GDM)
• Date: 05 December 1997

Austin v. Torstar Corp. (1997), 53 O.T.C. 90 (GDM)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [1997] O.T.C. TBEd. DE.217

Lawrence Austin (plaintiff) v. Torstar Corp., Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd., David R. Jolley, John Honderich, Ian Urquhart and Kevin Donovan (defendants)

(Court File No. 93-CQ-41938)

Indexed As: Austin v. Torstar Corp. et al.

Ontario Court of Justice

General Division

Peppiatt, Master

December 5, 1997.

Summary:

The plaintiff sued a newspaper and others for libel and interference with economic relations with respect to two published articles. The plaintiff examined the writer of the articles. The writer objected to answering questions related to other articles that he wrote. The plaintiff sought an order compelling the writer to answer the questions. The defendants sought disclosure of various documents.

A Master of the Ontario Court (General Division) held that the other articles were relevant. The court determined what questions had to be answered. The court also determined what documents had to be produced. The court ordered the plaintiff to deliver a further and better affidavit of documents and granted the defendants permission to cross-examine him on his affidavit of documents.

Libel and Slander - Topic 6190

Practice - Discovery - Range of questions to a defendant - See paragraphs 7 to 35.

Libel and Slander - Topic 6195

Practice - Discovery - Production of documents - See paragraphs 36 to 55.

Practice - Topic 4180

Discovery - Examination - Objections to questions - See paragraphs 7 to 35.

Practice - Topic 4259

Discovery - Examination - Range of - Relevant evidence - See paragraphs 7 to 35.

Practice - Topic 4573

Discovery - What documents must be produced - Documents relating to matters in issue - See paragraphs 36 to 55.

Practice - Topic 4612

Discovery - Production of documents by nonparties - Related companies - See paragraphs 36 to 55.

Cases Noticed:

Robinson v. Pearce Northern Ltd., [1942] O.W.N. 153 (H.C.), refd to. [para. 8].

Fletcher-Gordon v. Southam Inc., [1997] B.C.T.C. Uned. 215; 28 B.C.L.R.(3d) 187 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 8].

McCrea v. Canada Newspapers Co. et al. (1993), 122 N.S.R.(2d) 411; 338 A.P.R. 411 (S.C.), affd. (1993), 136 N.S.R.(2d) 212; 352 A.P.R. 212 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 31].

Rubinoff v. Newton, [1967] 1 O.R. 402 (H.C.), refd to. [para. 34].

Compagnie Financière et Commerciale du Pacifique v. Peruvian Guano Co. (1882), 11 Q.B.D. 55, refd to. [para. 43].

Statutes Noticed:

Rules of Civil Procedure (Ont.), rule 25.06(8) [para. 12]; rule 30.02(1) [para. 41].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Brown, Raymond E., The Law of Defamation in Canada, vol. 2, pp. 16-37; 16-40 [para. 18]; 19-63 [para. 16]; 19-64 [para. 10].

Counsel:

Robert P. Armstrong, Q.C., and T.C.W. Farrow, for the plaintiff;

Alison B. Woodbury, for the defendants.

This matter was heard on September 23 and 24, 1997, by Peppiatt, Master, of the Ontario Court (General Division), who delivered the following judgment on December 5, 1997.