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ARTICLE · 26 FEBRUARY 2026

Online Criticism And Defamation: An Ontario Anti-SLAPP Decision

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On November 25, 2025, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice dismissed a $2,000,000 defamation action brought by Theralase Technologies Inc. and two of its executives as an "archetypical example of ‘SLAPP'" (strategic litigation against public participation).

CanadaLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Kaley Pulfer
Kaley Pulfer
Michael Robson
Michael Robson
Larissa Zhong
Larissa Zhong
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On November 25, 2025, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice dismissed a $2,000,000 defamation action brought by Theralase Technologies Inc. and two of its executives as an "archetypical example of 'SLAPP'" (strategic litigation against public participation). The judge also awarded the defendant, a retail investor in the company who had published a single post in a chatroom urging changes to the Board of Directors, $25,000 in damages and costs of the motion.

Factual Background

Theralase Technologies Inc., a publicly traded clinical stage pharmaceutical company, conducts research and development related to light activated photo dynamic compounds, including laser technology. Between 2006 and 2020, Theralase experienced numerous and repeated failures to meet publicly projected milestones, including in relation to one of its lead products, the TLC-2000 Therapeutic Laser.

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