The rise of internet defamation and consequent litigation

I have over the last year taken an interest in defamation that arises in condominium communities.   Sometimes this takes place on the web.  Many owners think that the web offers them immunity particularly if the identity of the owner is masked by a pseudonym.  This is not the case.  The Vancouver Sun reported at http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Legal+claims+onlinedefamation+rise/4142690/story.html that there has been a rise in litigation relating to defamation on the web.  For those interested, though not specifically related to the internet, the following Supreme Court of Canada cases deal comprehensively with the issue of defamation and the right of freedom of speech: Manning and the Church of Scientology of Toronto v. Hill (SCC) and Grant et al. v. Torstar et al. (SCC).

An Introduction of Richard I. John, Lawyer and Alberta Condominium Reporter

Hello to everybody who finds this blog (blawg).   After much deliberation about how I would participate as a lawyer on line I have decided to surrender to Google.  I also must compliment condoreporter.com from Heenan Blaikie's Ontario office for inspiration.  Heenan Blaikie is sharing insights focused on condominium law in Ontario.  My focus will be on condominium law in Alberta.


I am a lawyer in Calgary, Alberta, Canada whose practice is focused on all matters related to real estate and as part of my practice I am actively involved in the area of condominium law.  It is my intention to use this blog to share insights into condominium law.  To begin I share a link to a very significant website called canlii.org and more particularly to the Condominium Property Act (Alberta).