Newsletters

May 14, 2020

206

Defamation on Social Media: Be Careful What You Post Online!

Much of our communication with one another has been taking place on social media. Networks such as Facebook and Instagram provide an unbeatable platform for making ourselves heard. Think twice before you criticize or complain online because your rant on social media could make you liable for defamation.

In Ville de Longueuil c. Théodore, 2020 QCCS 1339, the Quebec Superior Court recently held that the right to express opinions is not unlimited. Mr. Théodore had written a series of Facebook posts about various City of Longueuil officials, including several police officers. He was complaining about corruption, criminality and incompetence of City officials.

He was ordered to immediately cease posting defamatory statements on Facebook and other social media, and to take down existing defamatory posts as well as the names and private contact information of City employees and representatives.

There are many other such judgments and “anonymity” does not protect you. RSS litigators obtained a court order forcing an Internet service provider to give the name and address of a user who was anonymously posting defamatory statements. This allowed us to institute injunction proceedings once the person was identified.

206

Authors

Martin Côté

Managing Partner

Articles in the same category

Insurance Law

May 11, 2026

No Notice of Default, No Termination

In Pavage Wemindji Inc. v. Compagnie de Construction et de Développement crie ltée, the Quebec Superior Court emphasized that a valid notice of default (mise en demeure) is not just a formality—it’s a precondition to exercising remedies like contract termination in many cases under Quebec civil law. The Decision The plaintiff, Pavage Wemindji Inc. (“Wemindji”), […]
Insurance Law

May 6, 2026

Public Contracts: When Does a Penalty Clause Cross the Line?

Penalty clauses are a practical tool for owners: instead of having to prove actual losses when a contractor falls short, they can rely on a pre-agreed sum. For contractors, however, the stakes are equally significant — a lump-sum penalty can consume a substantial portion of the contract’s value. Still, the mechanism has its limits. Courts […]
Insurance Law / Newsletters

April 24, 2026

Not So Intelligent!

Since the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence tools, growing concerns have emerged regarding their use in judicial proceedings. Recent decisions have relied on section 342 of the Code of Civil Procedure to sanction parties who make improper use of such tools. More specifically, this provision has been invoked on several occasions to address the use or citation […]
Insurance Law / Newsletters

April 2, 2026

So? Is it settled or not?

In an interim decision in Djaferian v. Spanoudakis,rendered on February 20, 2026, the Superior Court had to determine whether an offer made 15 months earlier, prior to the institution of proceedings, could still be accepted and result in a transaction. Summary of Facts and Timeline The Plaintiff, a co-owner who sustained water damage to his private […]
Labour and Employment Law / Newsletters

April 1, 2026

Office Parties and the Employer’s Duty to Prevent Harassment

In De Sousa and Corporation interactive Eidos, 2026 QCTAT 4, the Quebec Administrative Labour Tribunal (ALT) appears to have broadened the scope of an employer’s obligation to prevent harassment. The decision arose from a complaint filed by a former employee who had been sexually assaulted at her home by a colleague following an office party organized by the […]
Insurance Law / Newsletters

March 24, 2026

Should Economic Losses Be Considered Property Damage?

The Quebec Court of Appeal in Zurich, Compagnie d’assurances SA c. CRT Construction inc., recently overturned the Superior Court’s decision on the interpretation of a construction insurance policy. Facts CRT Construction Inc. (“CRT”) was retained by the City of Montreal (“City”) to perform major construction work at the Atwater water treatment plant. At the City’s request, CRT […]