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ARTICLE · 26 JANUARY 2021

Defamation Suit Surrounding BC's Foreign Buyer Tax Is Dismissed

Gardiner Roberts LLP
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The law of defamation is fascinating because the fact scenarios of each case are unique.

CanadaLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Stephen Thiele
Stephen Thiele
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The law of defamation is fascinating because the fact scenarios of each case are unique. Where matters of public interest are involved, people are prone to express opinions about the activities and comments of others and to say things which either expressly accuse someone of illegal conduct or accuse someone by way of innuendo of such conduct.

In  Zhao v. Corus Entertainment Inc., 2020 BCSC 1533, after a three-day summary trial, Justice Milman was required to determine whether to dismiss a defamation action that involved comments made by multiple media outlets, radio hosts, and a BC Liberal candidate about the plaintiff and a plan the plaintiff had developed to help foreign investors buy real estate in British Columba without having to pay the "foreign buyer tax."

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