September 10, 2020
Bent v Platnick 2020 SCC 23

In a 5-4 ruling the majority allowed an Ontario doctor to continue his $16.3-million defamation suit against lawyer Maia Bent, who criticized him confidentially to members of an e-mail list. Her comments were leaked and republished.

The court’s majority said the lawsuit should be allowed to continue. It said the potential harm to Dr. Platnick’s reputation outweighed the harm to freedom of speech – whether directly to Ms. Bent, or in a potential chilling effect on others.