Decision Clarifies Limitation Periods For Internet Libel

In this recent interview, Brian Radnoff describes the effect of a recent defamation decision from the Court of Appeal for Ontario (Shtaif v. Toronto Life Publishing Co. Ltd.) on how limitation periods in the Libel and Slander Act function, how those provisions apply to Internet libel and the state of the "single publication rule" in the law of Ontario.

The plaintiffs who sued in this case were unhappy about a print version of a June 2008 Toronto Life article, but did not take legal action. However, when the internet version surfaced in late August 2008, they gave notice under the Libel and Slander Act and later brought an action claiming damages for defamation and negligence. In 2011, Toronto Life brought a motion for summary judgment to dismiss the action because according to the court, the claim was "barred by the limitation period in the act". The plaintiffs brought a cross-motion to amend their statement of claim to add a claim for libel in the print version of