tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13900996.post2533935140295294113..comments2023-10-10T11:35:48.659-04:00Comments on Joan Tintor: Toronto Star to appeal $1.5 M libel awardJoan Tintorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310221026999893117noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13900996.post-87592652073440777392007-02-28T16:04:00.000-05:002007-02-28T16:04:00.000-05:00A problem with libel law is that it at times assum...A problem with libel law is that it at times assumes that readers of newspapers are idiots.<BR/><BR/>Another problem is that our laws still don't recognize that there are people of public interest and that some speculative publishing about them is reasonable. This is what The Star means by appealing to allow a defense of 'qualified priviledge.'<BR/><BR/>It's a difficult slope, to be sure, but libel law is used often to intimidate, and that needs to end. A recent study by UBC found that of all libel cases thatwent through trial, only 10% were found in favour of the plaintiff. That tells us that many plaintiff are pushing cases that can't win, which tells us that libel law is likely being used to intimidate.Mark Richard Francishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16331995640397477486noreply@blogger.com