MKO sues former staffer for defamation
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Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak and its executive directive are suing a former employee for defamation.
In a statement of claim filed in Manitoba Court of King’s Bench earlier this month, MKO and Kelvin Lynxleg are suing Loretta Rudrum for general and punitive damages for various online postings starting in February 2023.
Rudrum worked at MKO, which serves as the voice of northern First Nations in Manitoba, until resigning Feb. 15, 2023.
JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak and its executive directive are suing a former employee for defamation.
MKO and Lynxleg are also asking the courts to issue a permanent injunction restraining Rudrum from continuing to publish defamatory statements against the organization and Lynxleg, and ordering her to delete the defamatory statements from her Facebook account, as well as from YouTube or any other social media.
No one from MKO responded to a call for comment.
Rudrum could not be reached for comment.
In the documents filed in court, MKO alleges Rudrum “intentionally and/or maliciously published untrue and defamatory statements concerning MKO and Lynxleg on the defendant’s Facebook and YouTube accounts, as well as sending multiple untrue and defamatory emails and circulating a false and malicious report.”
A lawyer for MKO demanded in a Feb. 17, 2023 letter that Rudrum delete the posts.
More than a year later, on Aug. 28, 2024, Rudrum allegedly posted a video “making numerous untrue defamatory statements about MKO and certain employees of MKO, including Lynxleg.”
The court documents allege the defamatory statements include being accused of mismanagement of funds, manipulation of financial statements, conflict of interest, nepotism during hiring and sexual misconduct.
Shortly after MKO’s lawyer sent another letter demanding the statements be removed, Rudrum sent a note to MKO’s primary funder, making several of the same alleged defamatory statements, as well as others against Grand Chief Garrison Settee and other employees.
Rudrum’s most recent statements, the court documents say, were posted to her Facebook page in January.
No statement of defence has been filed and the allegations have not been proven in court.
kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press’s city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin.
Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
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Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press’s city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin.
Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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