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Dinyer-Fraser v. Laurentian Bk., 2005 BCSC 225

Document Cited authorities 58 Cited in 14 Precedent Map Related
Vincent
JudgeBallance, J.
CourtSupreme Court of British Columbia (Canada)
Case DateDecember 06, 2004
JurisdictionBritish Columbia
Citations2005 BCSC 225;[2005] B.C.T.C. 225 (SC)

Dinyer-Fraser v. Laurentian Bk., [2005] B.C.T.C. 225 (SC)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2005] B.C.T.C. TBEd. MR.062

Irene Dinyer-Fraser (plaintiff) v. Laurentian Bank, B2B Trust, Ann Cosburn  and Carl Mercier (defendants)

(S022182; 2005 BCSC 225)

Indexed As: Dinyer-Fraser v. Laurentian Bank et al.

British Columbia Supreme Court

Vancouver

Ballance, J.

February 18, 2005.

Summary:

This headnote contains no summary.

Damage Awards - Topic 632

Torts/Quebec responsibility - Injury to the person - Libel and slander - See paragraphs 236 to 255.

Libel and Slander - Topic 641

The statement - What constitutes defamatory statements - General principles - General - See paragraphs 153 to 165.

Libel and Slander - Topic 644

The statement - What constitutes defamatory statements - General principles - Disparagement of reputation - See paragraphs 153 to 165.

Libel and Slander - Topic 2983

Defences - Qualified privilege - When available - See paragraphs 166 to 173.

Libel and Slander - Topic 4421

Damages - General damages (incl. measure of) - General principles - See paragraphs 236 to 255.

Libel and Slander - Topic 6025

Practice - Actions - Concurrent liability in defamation and negligence and other torts - See paragraphs 174 to 231.

Cases Noticed:

Color Your World Corp. v. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. et al. (1998), 106 O.A.C. 279; 38 O.R.(3d) 97; 156 D.L.R.(4th) 27 (C.A.), leave to appeal dismissed (1998), 232 N.R. 398; 119 O.A.C. 397 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 154].

Hiltz and Seamone Co. v. Nova Scotia (Attorney General) et al. (1997), 164 N.S.R.(2d) 161; 491 A.P.R. 161 (S.C.), affd. (1999), 173 N.S.R.(2d) 341; 527 A.P.R. 341; 172 D.L.R.(4th) 488 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 155].

Jones v. Skelton, [1963] 3 All E.R. 952 (P.C.), refd to. [para. 156].

Lewis v. Daily Telegraph Ltd., [1964] A.C. 234 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 156].

Hodgson v. Canadian Newspapers Co. et al. (2000), 133 O.A.C. 174; 49 O.R.(3d) 161; 189 D.L.R.(4th) 241 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 156].

Sykes v. Fraser, [1974] S.C.R. 526; 39 D.L.R.(3d) 321, refd to. [para. 23].

Grassi v. WIC Radio Ltd. et al., [2000] B.C.T.C. 97; 49 C.C.L.T.(2d) 65 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 157].

Makow v. Winnipeg Sun et al. (2003), 172 Man.R.(2d) 213; 2003 MBQB 56, affd. (2004), 184 Man.R.(2d) 97; 318 W.A.C. 97; 2004 MBCA 41, refd to. [para. 157].

Bruce v. Odhams Press Ltd., [1936] 1 K.B. 697 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 159].

Newstead v. London Express Newspaper, [1940] 1 K.B. 377 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 159].

Downey v. Armstrong (1901), 1 O.L.R. 237 (Div. Ct.), refd to. [para. 161].

McCrea v. Canada Newspapers Co. et al. (1993), 126 N.S.R.(2d) 212; 352 A.P.R. 212; 109 D.L.R.(4th) 396 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 161].

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. 167].

Simmonds v. Murphy (1996), 137 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 332; 428 A.P.R. 332 (P.E.I.T.D.), refd to. [para. 168].

Leenen v. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. et al. (2001), 147 O.A.C. 317; 54 O.R.(3d) 612 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 168].

Parisien v. Sasknative Economic Development Corp. et al. (1999), 181 Sask.R. 301 (Q.B.) refd to. [para. 168].

Halls v. Mitchell, [1928] S.C.R. 125; [1928] 2 D.L.R. 97, refd to. [para. 170].

Haas v. Davis (1998), 51 O.T.C. 285; 37 O.R.(3d) 528 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 170].

Horrocks v. Lowe, [1974] A.C. 135 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 171].

Spring v. Guardian Assurance plc et al., [1995] 2 A.C. 296; 174 N.R. 164 (H.L.), consd. [para. 176].

Bell-Booth Group Ltd. v. Attorney General, [1989] 3 N.Z.L.R. 148 (C.A.), consd. [para. 179].

Balfour v. Attorney General, [1991] 1 N.Z.L.R. 519 (C.A.), consd. [para. 179].

South Pacific Manufacturing Co. v. New Zealand Security Consultants & Investigations Ltd., [1992] 2 N.Z.L.R. 282 (C.A.), consd. [para. 179].

Mortensen v. Laing - see South Pacific Manufacturing Co. v. New Zealand Security Consultants & Investigations Ltd.

Hedley Byrne & Co. v. Heller & Partners Ltd., [1964] A.C. 465 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 186].

Cornelius v. Hackney London Borough, [2002] E.W.J. No. 3594 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 198].

Farah v. British Airways, [1999] E.W.J. No. 6699 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 198].

Sattin v. Nationwide News Property Ltd. (1996), 39 N.S.W.L.R. 32 (Sup. Ct.), consd. [para. 199].

Wade v. State of Victoria, [1999] 1 V.R. 121 (S.C.), consd. [para. 200].

Fulton v. Globe and Mail et al. (1997), 207 A.R. 374 (Q.B.), reving. in part (1996), 194 A.R. 254 (Q.B. Master), consd. [para. 204].

Guccione v. Bell et al. (1998), 229 A.R. 365 (Q.B. Master), revd. in part (1999), 239 A.R. 277 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 209].

Butler et al. v. Southam Inc. et al. (2000), 191 N.S.R.(2d) 158; 596 A.P.R. 158 (S.C.), consd. [para. 210].

Jurcevic et al. v. Thidrickson et al. (2001), 159 Man.R.(2d) 176; 2001 MBQB 208 (Master), consd. [para. 211].

Haskett v. Trans Union of Canada Inc. et al. (2003), 169 O.A.C. 201; 63 O.R.(3d) 577; 15 C.C.L.T.(3d) 194 (C.A.), leave to appeal refused (2003), 326 N.R. 397; 194 O.A.C. 400 (S.C.C.), consd. [para. 212].

Haskett v. Equifax Canada Inc. - see Haskett v. Trans Union of Canada Inc. et al.

Clark v. Scotiabank et al., [2004] O.T.C. 521; 25 C.C.L.T.(3d) 109 (Sup. Ct.), consd. [para. 214].

Musgrave v. Levesque Securities Inc. (2000), 183 N.S.R.(2d) 349; 568 A.P.R. 349; 3 B.L.R.(3d) 1 (S.C.), consd. [para. 215].

P.G. Restaurant Ltd. v. Northern Interior Regional Health Board et al., [2004] B.C.T.C. 294; [2004] 4 W.W.R. 287; 2004 BCSC 294, consd. [para. 216].

Trizec Properties Inc. et al. v. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. et al., [2004] O.T.C. 616 (Sup. Ct.), consd. [para. 218].

Anns v. Merton London Borough Council, [1978] A.C. 728 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 220].

Edwards et al. v. Law Society of Upper Canada et al., [2001] 3 S.C.R. 562; 277 N.R. 145; 153 O.A.C. 388; 2001 SCC 80, refd to. [para. 220].

Cooper v. Registrar of Mortgage Brokers (B.C.) et al., [2001] 3 S.C.R. 537; 277 N.R. 113; 160 B.C.A.C. 268; 261 W.A.C. 268; 2001 SCC 79, refd to. [para. 220].

Cooper v. Hobart - see Cooper v. Registrar of Mortgage Brokers (B.C.) et al.

BG Checo International Ltd. v. British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority, [1993] 1 S.C.R. 12; 147 N.R. 81; 20 B.C.A.C. 241; 35 W.A.C. 241; 90 D.L.R.(4th) 577, refd to. [para. 227].

Snell v. Farrell, [1990] 2 S.C.R. 311; 110 N.R. 200; 107 N.B.R.(2d) 94; 267 A.P.R. 94; 72 D.L.R.(4th) 289, refd to. [para. 233].

Athey v. Leonati et al., [1996] 3 S.C.R. 458; 203 N.R. 36; 81 B.C.A.C. 243; 132 W.A.C. 243; 140 D.L.R.(4th) 235, refd to. [para. 234].

Botiuk v. Bardyn et al., [1995] 3 S.C.R. 3; 186 N.R. 1; 85 O.A.C. 81; 126 D.L.R.(4th) 609, refd to. [para. 238].

Botiuk v. Toronto Free Press Publications Ltd. - see Botiuk v. Bardyn et al.

Vogel v. Canadian Broadcasting Corp., [1982] 3 W.W.R. 97; 35 B.C.L.R. 7 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 239].

Myers v. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. et al. (2000), 103 O.T.C. 81; 47 C.C.L.T.(2d) 272 (Sup. Ct.), affd. (2001), 147 O.A.C. 310; 6 C.C.L.T.(3d) 112 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 239].

Gracey v. Scott et al., [2002] B.C.T.C. 1209; 2002 BCSC 1209, refd to. [para. 240].

Brown v. Cole et al., [1999] 7 W.W.R. 703; 114 B.C.A.C. 73; 186 W.A.C. 73; 61 B.C.L.R.(3d) 1 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 248].

Fiola v. LeBrun et al. (2002), 169 Man.R.(2d) 172; 2002 MBQB 312, refd to. [para. 249].

McKerron v. Marshall, [1999] O.T.C. 23 (Sup. Ct.), refd to. [para. 249].

Southam Inc. et al. v. Chelekis et al. (2000), 133 B.C.A.C. 253; 217 W.A.C. 253; 73 B.C.L.R.(3d) 161; 2000 BCCA 112, refd to. [para. 249].

Ager v. Canjex Publishing Ltd. et al., [2003] B.C.T.C. 891; 16 C.C.L.T.(3d) 188; 2003 BCSC 891, refd to. [para. 249].

Murphy v. Alexander et al., [2001] O.T.C. 969 (Sup. Ct.), varied (2004), 183 O.A.C. 325; 236 D.L.R.(4th) 302 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 249].

Lapointe v. Summach, [2001] B.C.T.C. 805; 2001 BCSC 805, affd. (2003), 192 B.C.A.C. 229; 315 W.A.C. 229; 2003 BCCA 709, refd to. [para. 250].

Fast v. Cowling, [1996] 10 W.W.R. 73; 24 B.C.L.R.(3d) 82 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 250].

Kothlow v. Olsen, [1994] B.C.J. No. 1431 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 250].

Jackson v. Gow et al., [2001] B.C.T.C. 54; 2001 BCSC 54, refd to. [para. 284].

Jackson v. Hennessy, [2003] B.C.T.C. Uned. 309; 2003 BCSC 663, refd to. [para. 284].

Hemsworth v. Hemsworth, [2002] B.C.T.C. 648; 2002 BCSC 648, refd to. [para. 284].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Brown, Raymond E., The Law of Defamation in Canada (2nd Ed.) (1999 Looseleaf Supp.), ss. 5-65 [para. 158]; 5-68 [para. 157]; 25-2 [para. 239]; 25-11 [para. 241].

Gatley, Clement, Libel and Slander (8th Ed. 1981), para. 102 [para. 161].

Linden, Allen M., Canadian Tort Law (6th Ed. 1997), p. 4 [para. 228].

Counsel:

Patrick Sullivan and James Buckley, for the plaintiff;

Shayne Strukoff and Katherine Robinson, for the defendants.

This action was heard on May 10-14, 17-21, 25 and 31 and June 1-4 and 7-11, 2004, with additional written submissions November 26 and December 6, 2004, before Ballance, J., of the British Columbia Supreme Court, who delivered the following decision on February 18, 2005.

Please note: The following judgment has not been edited.

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12 practice notes
  • The medium is not the message: reconciling reputation and free expression in cases of Internet defamation.
    • Canada
    • McGill Law Journal Vol. 56 No. 1, December 2010
    • 1 Diciembre 2010
    ...771 at para 37, 87 OR (3d) 241[Cusson], rev'd on other grounds 2009 SCC 62, 314 DLR (4th) 55. See also Dinyer-Fraser v Laurentian Bank 2005 BCSC 225 at para 196, 40 BCLR (4th) (15) Huntley v Ward (1859), 6 CB (NS) 514 at 517, 175 ER 848 [Huntley], cited in Cusson, supra note 14 at para 39. ......
  • Mann v. International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers et al., [2012] B.C.T.C. Uned. 181
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    • Supreme Court of British Columbia (Canada)
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    ...by way of innuendos arising from inferences or implications reasonably borne by that meaning: Dinyer-Fraser v. Laurentian Bank, 2005 BCSC 225 at para. 156 [ Dinyer-Fraser ]. A half-truth, omission or distortion may convey a defamatory meaning: Musgrave v. Levesque Securities (2000), 183 N.S......
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    • Court of Appeal (British Columbia)
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    ...Vander Zalm v. Times Publishers (1980), 109 D.L.R. (3d) 531 (B.C.C.A.) [Vander Zalm], at 535; Dinyer‑Fraser v. Laurentian Bank, 2005 BCSC 225, at para. [Emphasis in original.] [32] The phrase requiring that defamatory words must “genuinely threaten the plaintiff’s actual reputation” was rep......
  • Monument Mining Ltd. v. Balendran Chong & Bodi et al., [2012] B.C.T.C. Uned. 1769
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    • Supreme Court of British Columbia (Canada)
    • 29 Noviembre 2012
    ...in liquidation since 2004. The shares she claimed to have owned had been long sold. Monument relies on Dinyer-Fraser v. Laurentian Bank , 2005 BCSC 225 where Ballance J. found at para. 170: ... the prevailing Canadian jurisprudence seems to be that a defendant's honest belief in the existen......
    • Request a trial to view additional results
11 cases
  • Mann v. International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers et al., [2012] B.C.T.C. Uned. 181
    • Canada
    • Supreme Court of British Columbia (Canada)
    • 6 Febrero 2012
    ...by way of innuendos arising from inferences or implications reasonably borne by that meaning: Dinyer-Fraser v. Laurentian Bank, 2005 BCSC 225 at para. 156 [ Dinyer-Fraser ]. A half-truth, omission or distortion may convey a defamatory meaning: Musgrave v. Levesque Securities (2000), 183 N.S......
  • Weaver v. Ball, 2020 BCCA 119
    • Canada
    • Court of Appeal (British Columbia)
    • 30 Abril 2020
    ...Vander Zalm v. Times Publishers (1980), 109 D.L.R. (3d) 531 (B.C.C.A.) [Vander Zalm], at 535; Dinyer‑Fraser v. Laurentian Bank, 2005 BCSC 225, at para. [Emphasis in original.] [32] The phrase requiring that defamatory words must “genuinely threaten the plaintiff’s actual reputation” was rep......
  • Monument Mining Ltd. v. Balendran Chong & Bodi et al., [2012] B.C.T.C. Uned. 1769
    • Canada
    • Supreme Court of British Columbia (Canada)
    • 29 Noviembre 2012
    ...in liquidation since 2004. The shares she claimed to have owned had been long sold. Monument relies on Dinyer-Fraser v. Laurentian Bank , 2005 BCSC 225 where Ballance J. found at para. 170: ... the prevailing Canadian jurisprudence seems to be that a defendant's honest belief in the existen......
  • Rubin v. Ross et al., 2010 SKQB 249
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    • Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench of Saskatchewan (Canada)
    • 14 Julio 2010
    ...1130; 184 N.R. 1; 84 O.A.C. 1; 126 D.L.R.(4th) 129, refd to. [para. 79]. Dinyer-Fraser v. Laurentian Bank et al., [2005] B.C.T.C. 225; 2005 BCSC 225, refd to. [para. Authors and Works Noticed: Brown, Raymond E., The Law of Defamation in Canada (2nd Ed. 1994) (1999 Looseleaf Supp.) (2009 Upd......
    • Request a trial to view additional results
1 books & journal articles

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