Nova Scotia Social Media Defamation Suit Dismissed

A defamation suit filed by two former chiefs against two former firefighters for comments anonymously posted on-line has been dismissed.

Former Halifax Fire Chief Bill Mosher and former Deputy Chief Stephen Thurber filed suit against former firefighters Blair Cromwell and Wayne Chapdelaine back in 2010. The firefighters were accused of leaving anonymous defamatory remarks about the chiefs on the web site of a local weekly newspaper, The Coast.

Prior to filing the suit the chiefs had to sue the newspaper to obtain the identities of the posters for them to be identified.

The dismissal leaves Cromwell claiming victory. He was quoted by the Herald News as saying:

  • “I’ve been trying, through my lawyer, to have this lawsuit closed out on my terms.”
  • “The city wanted me fired for many years because I was a troublemaker in their eyes raising issues pertaining to race.”
  • “This was a deception there was never any intent to follow through with this lawsuit. It was used to identify and terminate me.”
  • “It was an abuse of the judicial system, that’s what this is about.”

On the other hand he admitted he has no permanent employment or financial security, having been fired over the postings in 2010. “I mean I use to have financial security, I no longer have that. I live a completely different existence.”

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
x

Check Also

UK Parliament Questions Fire Service Leader on Institutional Racism Claim

As have many fire departments in the UK and Canada recently, the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority has been in the news relative to allegations of institutional racism and sexism. However, when questioned by Lee Anderson, a member of parliament, the chair of the Authority, Rebecca Knox, was unable to answer some relatively simple questions about the decision to label her organization “institutionally racist.”

Another Assisting Police Lawsuit in the News

A federal court in California has dismissed several counts in a lawsuit filed against the City of Richmond and American Medical Response West over the death of a man, but will otherwise allow the case to continue. The suit was brought by the family of Ivan Gutzalenko, who died on March 10, 2021.