Dhami et al. v. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. et al., 2001 BCSC 1811
| Judge | Slade, J. |
| Court | Supreme Court of British Columbia (Canada) |
| Case Date | December 28, 2001 |
| Jurisdiction | British Columbia |
| Citations | 2001 BCSC 1811;[2001] B.C.T.C. 1811 (SC) |
Dhami v. CBC, [2001] B.C.T.C. 1811 (SC)
MLB headnote and full text
Temp. Cite: [2002] B.C.T.C. TBEd. FE.010
Manjit Singh Dhami, Harjit Singh Atwal, Piara Singh Natt and Jagtar Singh Sandhu (plaintiffs) v. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Kevin Evans, Indo-Canadian Times International Inc., Indo-Canadian Times, Tara Singh Hayer, Dalip Singh Mangat, Sohinder Singh Dhillon and Harjinder Singh Dhillon (defendants)
(S045565; 2001 BCSC 1811)
Indexed As: Dhami et al. v. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. et al.
British Columbia Supreme Court
New Westminster
Slade, J.
December 28, 2001.
Summary:
This headnote contains no summary.
Civil Rights - Topic 1843.1
Freedom of speech or expression - Limitations on - Defamation - See paragraphs 97 to 108.
Libel and Slander - Topic 903
The statement - Innuendo - What constitutes - See paragraphs 14 to 31.
Libel and Slander - Topic 6132
Practice - Pleadings - Statement of defence - Meaning of defamatory words - See paragraphs 61 to 66.
Libel and Slander - Topic 6133
Practice - Pleadings - Defence of qualified privilege - See paragraphs 68 to 95.
Libel and Slander - Topic 6134
Practice - Pleadings - Defence of fair comment - See paragraphs 109 to 113.
Libel and Slander - Topic 6226
Practice - Particulars - Of defamatory words - See paragraphs 32 to 55.
Cases Noticed:
McNaughton v. Baker (1988), 25 B.C.L.R.(2d) 17 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 12].
Lapointe v. Summach, [1999] B.C.T.C. Uned. 220 (S.C. Master), refd to. [para. 12].
Lewis v. Daily Telegraph Ltd., [1963] 2 All E.R. 151 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 17].
Fletcher-Gordon et al. v. Southam Inc., [1995] B.C.J. No. 253 (S.C. Master), affd. [1995] B.C.J. No. 879 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 24].
Ward v. Clark, [2000] B.C.T.C. 435; 77 B.C.L.R.(3d) 364 (S.C.), revd. (2001), 161 B.C.A.C. 192; 263 W.A.C. 192 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 25].
Taylor-Wright et al. v. CHBC-TV et al. (1999), 4 B.C.T.C. 1 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 25].
Leenen v. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. et al. (2001), 147 O.A.C. 317; 54 O.R.(3d) 612 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 25].
Ross v. New Brunswick Teachers' Association et al. (2001), 238 N.B.R.(2d) 112; 617 A.P.R. 112; 201 D.L.R.(4th) 75 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 25].
Bank of British Columbia v. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation et al. (1986), 5 B.C.L.R.(2d) 131 (S.C.), affd. (1986), 6 B.C.L.R.(2d) 215 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 33].
Moffat v. BCTV Systems Ltd., [1985] 1 W.W.R. 271 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 33].
Stumpf et al. v. Globe Holdings Ltd., Treleaven and Malone (1982), 45 A.R. 298 (Q.B. Master), refd to. [para. 37].
DDSA Pharmaceuticals Ltd. v. Times Newspaper Ltd. and Another, [1972] 3 All E.R. 417 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 38].
Laufer v. Bucklaschuk (1999), 145 Man.R.(2d) 1; 218 W.A.C. 1; 181 D.L.R.(4th) 83 (C.A.), leave to appeal dismissed (2000), 261 N.R. 393; 160 Man.R.(2d) 115; 262 W.A.C. 115 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 41].
Pizza Ltd. v. Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd. et al. (1998), 115 O.A.C. 338; 167 D.L.R.(4th) 748 (Div. Ct.), affd. (2000), 128 O.A.C. 369; 187 D.L.R.(4th) 761 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 44].
Turner v. Toronto Sun Publishing Corp. (1990), 50 C.P.C.(2d) 73 (Ont. Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 49].
Polly Peck (Holdings) plc et al. v. Trelford et al., [1986] 2 All E.R. 84 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 49].
Lucas-Box v. Newsgroup Newspapers Ltd., [1986] 1 All E.R. 177 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 50].
Siddon v. Mair et al., [1997] B.C.T.C. Uned. 208 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 61].
Grassi v. WIC Radio Ltd. et al., [2000] B.C.T.C. 97; [2000] 5 W.W.R. 119 (S.C.), revd. (2001), 153 B.C.A.C. 305; 251 W.A.C. 305; 89 B.C.L.R.(3d) 198 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 62].
Goddard v. Day et al., [2001] 5 W.W.R. 501; 276 A.R. 304 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 64].
Hill v. Church of Scientology of Toronto and Manning, [1995] 2 S.C.R. 1130; 184 N.R. 1; 84 O.A.C. 1; 126 D.L.R.(4th) 129, refd to. [para. 71].
Moises v. Canadian Newspapers Co. (1996), 76 B.C.A.C. 263; 125 W.A.C. 263; 24 B.C.L.R.(3d) 211 (C.A.), leave to appeal refused (1997), 208 N.R. 320; 86 B.C.A.C. 240; 142 W.A.C. 240 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 72].
Jones v. Bennett, [1969] S.C.R. 277, refd to. [para. 75].
Sapiro v. Leader Publishing Co., [1926] 2 W.W.R. 268 (Sask. C.A.), refd to. [para. 76].
Reynolds v. Times Newspapers Ltd., [1999] 4 All E.R. 609; 250 N.R. 1 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 77].
Campbell v. Jones et al. (2001), 197 N.S.R.(2d) 212; 616 A.P.R. 212 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 83].
Myers v. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. et al. (1999), 103 O.T.C. 8; 47 C.C.L.T.(2d) 272 (Sup. Ct.), refd to. [para. 84].
Leenen v. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. et al. (2000), 105 O.T.C. 91; 48 O.R.(3d) 656; 50 C.C.L.T.(2d) 213 (Sup. Ct.), affd. (2001), 147 O.A.C. 317; 54 O.R.(3d) 612; 6 C.C.L.T.(3d) 97 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 85].
Yew v. Globe and Mail et al., [2001] O.T.C. 63; 52 O.R.(3d) 652 (Sup. Ct.), refd to. [para. 86].
Bow Valley Resource Services v. Kansa General Insurance Co. (1991), 56 B.C.L.R.(2d) 337 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 99].
Taylor-Wright et al. v. CHBC-TV et al. (2000), 144 B.C.A.C. 295; 236 W.A.C. 295 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 101].
Chief Provincial Firearms Officer (B.C.) v. Kexco Publishing Co. et al. (1995), 67 B.C.A.C. 297; 111 W.A.C. 297; 17 B.C.L.R.(3d) 176 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 102].
Dolphin Delivery Ltd. v. Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, Local 580, Peterson and Alexander, [1986] 2 S.C.R. 573; 71 N.R. 83; 33 D.L.R.(4th) 174; [1987] 1 W.W.R. 577; 38 C.C.L.T. 184; 25 C.R.R. 321; 87 C.L.L.C. 14,002; 9 B.C.L.R.(2d) 273, refd to. [para. 103].
Adbusters Media Foundation v. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. (1995), 13 B.C.L.R.(3d) 265 (S.C.), affd. (1997), 99 B.C.A.C. 19; 162 W.A.C. 19; 154 D.L.R.(4th) 404 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 106].
McKinney v. University of Guelph et al., [1990] 3 S.C.R. 229; 118 N.R. 1; 45 O.A.C. 1; 76 D.L.R.(4th) 545; 2 C.R.R.(2d) 1, refd to. [para. 106].
National Party of Canada et al. v. Canadian Broadcasting Corp., [1994] 1 W.W.R. 352; 144 A.R. 50 (Q.B.), affd. [1994] 1 W.W.R. 361; 145 A.R. 267; 55 W.A.C. 267 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 107].
Trieger v. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. (1988), 66 O.R.(2d) 273 (H.C.), refd to. [para. 107].
Citizens for Foreign Aid Reform Inc. v. Canadian Jewish Congress et al. (1999), 23 B.C.T.C. 98; 36 C.P.C.(4th) 266 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 119].
Adam v. Ward, [1917] A.C. 309 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 122].
Statutes Noticed:
Libel and Slander Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 263, sect. 14(1) [para. 45].
Rules of Court (B.C.), Supreme Court Rules, rule 19(12)(a) [para. 30]; rule 19(16) [para. 32].
Authors and Works Noticed:
Brown, R.E., The Law of Defamation in Canada (2nd Ed. 1994), pp. 961 [para. 138]; 974, 1003, 1004 [para. 140]; 1282 [para. 133]; 1308 [para. 34].
Brown, R.E., The Law of Defamation in Canada (2nd Ed. 1994) (Looseleaf), pp. 13-64 [para. 100]; 15-2 [para. 110]; 20-23 [para. 120].
Linden, A.M., Canadian Tort Law (5th Ed. 1993), p. 644 [para. 16].
Counsel:
Eric Rice, Q.C., for the plaintiffs;
Murray Smith, for the defendants, CBC and Kevin Evans.
This application was heard on June 7 and 8, 2001, before Slade, J., of the British Columbia Supreme Court, who delivered the following decision on December 28, 2001.
Please note: The following judgment has not been edited.
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Table of cases
...590 (S.C.C.) 69 0 Dewe v. Waterbury (1881), 6 S.C.R. 143 888 , 89 7 Dhami v. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, [2001] B.C.J. No. 2773, 2001 BCSC 1811 557 , 561 , 563 , 565 , 634 , 655 , 923 Table of Cases 957 Dickhoff v. Armadale Communications Ltd., [1992] SJ. No. 383 (Q.B.) 152 Dickhoff ......
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Pre-trial Disposition of Claims and Defences
...Aid Reform Inc. v. Canadian Jewish Congress, 2000 BCSC 737, per McKinnon J. at para. 31. Dhami v. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 2001 BCSC 1811, per Slade J. B. SUMMARY JUDGMENT 1) General Rules The court rules in most provinces provide for summary judgment proceedings to dispose of all......
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Pleadings
...the words complained of "were defamatory in that they meant and were understood to mean ..." Dhami v. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 2001 BCSC 1811, per Slade J at paras. 2628. 562 CANADIA N LIBE L AND SLANDE R ACTION S ii) "The said words are defamatory in their natural and ordinary me......
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Qualified Privilege and Publication to the World at Large
...defence. Lee v. The Globe and Mail (2001), 52 O.R. (3d) 652 (S.C.J.) Dhami v. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, [2001] B.CJ. No. 2773, 2001 BCSC 1811. Khan v. Metroland Printing, Publishing &> Distributing Ltd., [2000] OJ. No. 638 (S.C.J.). In Goddard v. Day, [2001] 5 WWR. 651 (Alta. Q.B.)......
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Vellacott v. Laliberte,
...3 S.C.R. 3; 186 N.R. 1; 85 O.A.C. 81, refd to. [para. 22]. Dhami et al. v. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. et al., [2001] B.C.T.C. 1811; 2001 BCSC 1811, refd to. [para. St. Pierre v. Pacific Newspaper Group Inc. et al., [2006] B.C.T.C. 241; 2006 BCSC 241, refd to. [para. 24]. Statutes Noticed: ......
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Creative Salmon Co. v. Staniford, [2007] B.C.T.C. Uned. A95
...Ltd. (1998), 167 D.L.R. (4th) 748 (Ont. Div. Ct.), aff'd (2000), 49 O.R. (3d) 254 (C.A.); Dhami v. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. , 2001 BCSC 1811. [20] Mr. Staniford alleges that the words do not have the meaning attributed to them by Creative Salmon. He says that the words complained of were......
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Atkinson v. McMillan et al., [2009] Yukon Cases Uned. (SC) 81
..., [1983] B.C.J. No. 2464; Silva v. Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd. , [1998] O.J. No. 6491; and, Dhami v. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. , 2001 BCSC 1811. [43] The plaintiff's counsel did not argue that the old law in this area should continue to govern. Although, he did refer to a 2008 case ......
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Mainstream Can. v. Staniford, [2012] B.C.T.C. Uned. 1691
...at paras. 5 and 6. There is no dispute concerning those basic principles. [24] I note in Dhami v. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. , 2001 BCSC 1811, at para. 61, that Mr. Justice Slade notes a decision of Mr. Justice Fraser's in Siddon v Mair , where it appears that a similar issue arose before ......
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Table of cases
...590 (S.C.C.) 69 0 Dewe v. Waterbury (1881), 6 S.C.R. 143 888 , 89 7 Dhami v. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, [2001] B.C.J. No. 2773, 2001 BCSC 1811 557 , 561 , 563 , 565 , 634 , 655 , 923 Table of Cases 957 Dickhoff v. Armadale Communications Ltd., [1992] SJ. No. 383 (Q.B.) 152 Dickhoff ......
-
Pre-trial Disposition of Claims and Defences
...Aid Reform Inc. v. Canadian Jewish Congress, 2000 BCSC 737, per McKinnon J. at para. 31. Dhami v. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 2001 BCSC 1811, per Slade J. B. SUMMARY JUDGMENT 1) General Rules The court rules in most provinces provide for summary judgment proceedings to dispose of all......
-
Pleadings
...the words complained of "were defamatory in that they meant and were understood to mean ..." Dhami v. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 2001 BCSC 1811, per Slade J at paras. 2628. 562 CANADIA N LIBE L AND SLANDE R ACTION S ii) "The said words are defamatory in their natural and ordinary me......
-
Qualified Privilege and Publication to the World at Large
...defence. Lee v. The Globe and Mail (2001), 52 O.R. (3d) 652 (S.C.J.) Dhami v. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, [2001] B.CJ. No. 2773, 2001 BCSC 1811. Khan v. Metroland Printing, Publishing &> Distributing Ltd., [2000] OJ. No. 638 (S.C.J.). In Goddard v. Day, [2001] 5 WWR. 651 (Alta. Q.B.)......