Jillian M. Siskind

The appellants, operators of a long-term care home, appealed a motion judge's decision dismissing their defamation action under section 137.1 of the Courts of Justice Act (anti-SLAPP motion).

The respondent had posted approximately 100 tweets over three years on anonymous accounts alleging elder abuse and serious wrongdoing at the facility.

The motion judge found the tweets related to a matter of public interest and dismissed the action.

The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal, finding the motion judge made reviewable errors in her section 137.1(4) analysis by failing to properly assess whether the defamation claim had merit and whether the appellants had suffered harm, and by assuming the respondent's expression had value without conducting the necessary preliminary analysis.

The Electrical Safety Authority appealed the acquittal of Turano’s Home Improvement Ltd. at trial.

The trial judge had acquitted the corporate defendant, finding that its identity was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt, primarily due to the absence of "Ltd" on the contract letterhead.

The appellate court found that the trial judge erred by focusing too narrowly on the letterhead and failing to consider the totality of the evidence, which included witness testimony and documentary evidence confirming the corporate entity's involvement.

The appeal was granted, and the corporate defendant was found guilty on the dismissed counts.