Romano v. D'Onofrio et al., [2004] O.T.C. 1083 (SC)

• Judge: Ducharme, J.
• Court: Superior Court of Justice of Ontario (Canada)
• Case Date: October 12, 2004
• Jurisdiction: Ontario
• Citations: [2004] O.T.C. 1083 (SC)

Romano v. D'Onofrio, [2004] O.T.C. 1083 (SC)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2004] O.T.C. TBEd. DE.030

Joseph Leo Romano (plaintiff/respondent) v. Vincenzo D'Onofrio and 1030692 Ontario Limited carrying on business as the Minturno Social Club (defendants/moving parties)

(Court File No. 02-CV-231701CM3)

Indexed As: Romano v. D'Onofrio et al.

Court of Ontario

Superior Court of Justice

Ducharme, J.

December 3, 2004.

Summary:

This headnote contains no summary.

Libel and Slander - Topic 748

The statement - What constitutes defamatory statements - Slander - Respecting a person's profession, trade or office - See paragraphs 24 to 34.

Libel and Slander - Topic 1944

Publication - What constitutes - Radio or television broadcast - See paragraphs 10 to 20.

Libel and Slander - Topic 4405

Damages - General - Special damages - See paragraphs 35 to 40.

Libel and Slander - Topic 6061

Practice - Notice - General - See paragraphs 21 to 23.

Limitation of Actions - Topic 3241

Actions in tort - Libel and slander - General - See paragraphs 21 to 23.

Cases Noticed:

Aguonie v. Galion Solid Waste Material Inc. (1998), 107 O.A.C. 114; 156 D.L.R.(4th) 222 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 6].

Dawson et al. v. Rexcraft Storage and Warehouse Inc. et al. (1998), 111 O.A.C. 201; 164 D.L.R.(4th) 257 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 6].

Guarantee Co. of North America v. Gordon Capital Corp., [1999] 3 S.C.R. 423; 247 N.R. 97; 126 O.A.C. 1; 178 D.L.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 8].

Bahlieda v. Santa, [2003] O.A.C. Uned. 430; 68 O.R.(3d) 115 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 11].

McIntyre Estate v. Ontario (Attorney General) (2002), 164 O.A.C. 37; 61 O.R.(3d) 257 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

Rizzo & Rizzo Shoes Ltd. (Bankrupt), Re, [1998] 1 S.C.R. 27; 221 N.R. 241; 106 O.A.C. 1; 154 D.L.R.(4th) 193, refd to. [para. 14].

Weiss v. Sawyer (2002), 163 O.A.C. 2; 61 O.R.(3d) 526 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 15].

Watson and Gallagher v. Southam Inc. et al. (2000), 134 O.A.C. 139; 189 D.L.R.(4th) 695 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 17].

Grossman v. CFTO-T.V. Ltd. et al. (1982), 39 O.R.(2d) 498 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 22].

Hicks v. Stephens (1997), 40 O.T.C. 190 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 24].

Cooper v. Warburton (1933), 44 B.C.R. 328 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 32].

Klein v. Kaip (1989), 78 Sask.R. 31 (Q.B.), affd. (1989), 79 Sask.R. 160 (C.A.), leave to appeal refused (1990), 105 N.R. 319; 83 Sask.R. 160 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 35].

Floyd v. Walker (Hiram) & Sons Ltd. et al., [1957] O.R. 107 (H.C.), refd to. [para. 35].

Pootlass v. Pootlass (1999), 5 B.C.T.C. 21; 63 B.C.L.R.(3d) 305 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 35].

Knox v. Spencer (1922), 50 N.B.R. 69 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 35].

Ratcliffe v. Evans, [1892] 2 Q.B. 524 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 35].

Stewart v. Sterling (1918), 42 O.L.R. 477 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 35].

Moore v. Meagher (1807), 1 Taunt. 39, refd to. [para. 38].

Davies v. Solomon (1871), L.R. 7 Q.B. 112, refd to. [para. 38].

Prinzo v. Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care (2002), 161 O.A.C. 302; 60 O.R.(3d) 474 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 41].

Rahemtulla v. Vanfed Credit Union, [1984] 3 W.W.R. 296 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 42].

Boucher et al. v. Public Accountants Council (Ont.) et al. (2004), 188 O.A.C. 201 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 45].

Zesta Engineering Ltd. v. Cloutier et al. (2002), 164 O.A.C. 234 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 45].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Brown, Raymond E., The Law of Defamation in Canada (2nd Ed.) (1999 Looseleaf Supp.), pp. 8-2 [para. 13, footnote 2]; 8-10 [para. 13, footnotes 2, 3]; 8-123 [para. 39, footnote 5].

Fleming, John G., The Law of Torts (9th Ed. 1998), p. 39 [para. 44, footnote 6].

Hansard (Ont.) - see Ontario, Hansard, Legislative Assembly, Official Report of Debates.

Law Society of Upper Canada, Rules of Professional Conduct, rule 1.02 [para. 26].

Linden, Allen M., Canadian Tort Law (7th Ed. 2001), p. 55 [para. 44].

Ontario, Hansard, Legislative Assembly, Official Report of Debates, 4th sess., 31st Parliament (April 15, 1980), p. 813 [para. 16].

Counsel:

Glenn E. Cohen, for the plaintiff/respondent;

Allan D. Powell, for the defendants/moving parties.

This case was heard on October 12, 2004, before Ducharme, J., of the Ontario Superior Court. The following decision was endorsed on the record and released on December 3, 2004.

Please note: The following judgment has not been edited.