20°c Partly cloudy
10°c Light rain
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Lawsuit against T.O. mayor dismissed
Ford did not libel businessman: judge
Rob Ford (CP)
TORONTO — An Ontario judge has dismissed a $6-million defamation lawsuit against Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.
Ontario Superior Court Justice John Macdonald ruled Thursday the plaintiff, restaurant owner George Foulidis, failed to meet the "essential aspects" required for a libel claim.
In the 15-page decision, Macdonald wrote that Foulidis did not prove the comments in question made by Ford were directed at him or that they were defamatory.
"His action fails on this basis and must therefore be dismissed," wrote the judge.
In a statement, the mayor says the court’s decision is "welcome."
"I will continue fighting to represent the best interests of Toronto taxpayers at city hall," said Ford. "There is still a lot of work to be done and I will continue to focus on this."
Foulidis sued Ford alleging that the mayor suggested a sole-sourced, untendered, 20-year leasing deal between Foulidis’s company, Tuggs Inc., and the city was corrupt and that it "stinks to high heaven."
Ford made the comments during an editorial meeting with a Toronto newspaper in the middle of a 2010 mayoral campaign bid.
He told the paper he suspected "corruption and skulduggery" in the closeddoors deal, saying: "These in-camera meetings, there’s more corruption and skulduggery going on in there than I’ve ever seen in my life. And if Tuggs isn’t, then I don’t know what is."
Ford testified in court that at the time, he wasn’t suggesting the deal was illegal, just that it didn’t follow the proper tendering process.
"I can’t pinpoint it, but even to this day people still say the deal stinks to high heaven, but it’s hard to pinpoint and prove, but I’m not the only one saying that," he told the newspaper board at the time.
"I’ve never seen a deal like this and it just didn’t add up to me. I still feel that way."
During the trial, Foulidis’s lawyer told the court that Ford’s comments were "opportunist" at a time where the now-mayor was trying to win votes.
He also argued Foulidis’s reputation as a businessman, and the owner of the Boardwalk Pub in the Toronto Beach neighbourhood, was damaged because Ford’s remarks were made without proof.
In the ruling, Macdonald agreed Ford made the comments in question, but a reasonable person would not have linked them to Foulidis instead of the company in general.
— The Canadian Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 28, 2012 A16
Fact Check
Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.
More Canada
- Back to Top
- Return to Canada
More Canada
(1 of 22 articles for today)
Ontario judge declines to certify class action for G20 detainees
2:40 PM 0TORONTO - An Ontario judge has ruled that hundreds of people detained during the G20 summit three years ago can't ...
Poll
Most Popular Canada
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- Abrupt departure for Mayor Rob Ford's chief of staff amid 'crack video' scandal
- Duffy says he's won't quit Senate in first public comments since expense scandal
- Charges laid against three in Canada Revenue Agency fraud investigation
- Could have accepted chief of staff's resignation sooner, Harper admits
- Ford still mum, but sacks adviser
- Rob Ford's chief of staff out of office as 'crack video' scandal swirls
- CRTC hits Alberta's Wildrose Party with $90,000 fine for robocalls in 2011, 2012
- Canadian Press NewsAlert: Toronto mayor denies using crack cocaine
- Federal Court upholds 2011 election results in 'robocall' ridings
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- Two men now facing first-degree murder charges in Tim Bosma test drive death
- Mother cries, yells as driver appears in court charged with killing boy on patio
- Harper to be on hot seat at Tuesday caucus after chief of staff quits
- Abrupt departure for Mayor Rob Ford's chief of staff amid 'crack video' scandal
- Toronto mayor stays silent about alleged crack video as Trudeau, Wynne weigh in
- Baird takes the heat, Harper sheds little light on Senate spending scandal
- Canadian and American missing for nearly two weeks in Mexico
- Charges laid against three in Canada Revenue Agency fraud investigation
- First-degree murder charge to be laid in test drive death; remains badly burned
- Multiple fatalities after serious crash near U.S. border
- Canadian tourist dies after falling from hotel in Mexican resort
- Crack-cocaine video allegations 'ridiculous,' Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says
- Arrest made in case of Hamilton, Ont., man missing after pickup truck test drive
- Leaving Saskatoon: police mourn homeless drunk they considered a friend
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Man with no arms plans to fight seatbelt ticket, wants apology from police
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- Two men now facing first-degree murder charges in Tim Bosma test drive death
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- Duffy says he's won't quit Senate in first public comments since expense scandal
- Abrupt departure for Mayor Rob Ford's chief of staff amid 'crack video' scandal
- Vancouver Aquarium breeds endangered frogs, plans to release amphibians
- CRTC hits Alberta's Wildrose Party with $90,000 fine for robocalls in 2011, 2012
- Should have taken action sooner: PM
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Ottawa threatens 'retaliatory measures' over new U.S. meat labelling regulations
- Secret CSIS source, allied intelligence cited in high-profile terror case
- Canadian and American missing for nearly two weeks in Mexico
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- Harper government buying ads to promote job grant program that doesn't yet exist
- Toronto, eh? Late-night TV cracks up audiences with jibes at Mayor Rob Ford
- Second suspect in test drive killing charged with first-degree murder
- Promising new way of fighting cancer
- Quake near Ottawa rattles residents across wide swath of Ontario, Quebec
- U.S. bill would give Canadian snowbirds more time to spend in the sun
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Man with no arms plans to fight seatbelt ticket, wants apology from police
- Leaving Saskatoon: police mourn homeless drunk they considered a friend
- Commanding officer of Canadian Forces base in Alberta charged with sex assault
- Duffy bailout by Harper's chief of staff prompts allegations of coverup by PMO
- Ottawa threatens 'retaliatory measures' over new U.S. meat labelling regulations
- What's snot OK with eating your own boogers?
- Prince Philip presented with Order of Canada during royal visit to Toronto
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.