Lakeshore Advance, 2012-11-07, Page 2Petrolia Mayor wins
defamation case
For the Lakeshore Advance
Petrolia Mayor John McCharles has
won 11 defamation case against his most
ural critic, town resident Jeff Johnston.
Small Claim Deputy Judge Kenneth
Koprowski has ordered Johnston to
pay McCharles almost $25,000 in dam-
ages and court costs for defaming the
mayor's character.
In a written statement, Koprowski
said an audio recording made by John-
ston during a May 2010 council meeting
and played during the September trial
was a "high-handed and deliberate
effort" to destroy htcCharles's personnl
and professional reputation.
Johnston's personal attacked caused the
mayor to suffer emotionally and experi-
ence sleepless nights, the deputy judge
,added in a judgment issued Oct. 31.
The two men received copies on
Tuesday.
"I don't know what I'm going to do
just yet, Johnston said. "I'm weighing
my options."
McCharles referred questions to his
lawyer, Derek Ross, noting the judgment
might still he appealed. Ross, of Lon-
don, couldn't immediately he reached
for comment.
Koprowski referred in his judgment to
the town council meeting recording, in
which Johnston McCharles what were
ruled to be derogatory comments.
Neither of the warring parties
showed much respect for the other,
Koprowski said,
'I'o back one claim about McCharles,
Johnston presented three truck rental
agreetnents made years earlier by
McCharles when he operated a business
in Petrolia.
No charges were ever laid against
McCharles, who testified he was told by
()PP investigators that they saw no indi-
cation anyone had suffered a loss from
the. dealings..
The three rental agreements were
made out in Johnston's name, though
he wasn't the individual who rented
the truck.
McCharles said during the trial that
he believed the man renting the truck,
who said Johnston would be driving
the vehicle, so he permitted John-
ston's name to be used on the three
agreements.
'the company that granted McCharles
the rental franchise took no action
against hint, nor did the company's
insurers.
Johnston refused to accept the find-
ings of the OPP, the company and its
insurers, Koprowski said.
The September trial actually dealt
with two opposing claims. Johnston
had sued McCharles for $10,000 for
defamation, claiming McCharles
implied he was liar in a newspaper
article.
Johnston's claim was dismissed by
Koprowski, tvho said he failed to notify
McCharles of his intention to launch
the court case. Johnston also failed to
meet a three-month time limit on the
action.
Despite the deadline failures, John-
ston offered no proof his character was
defamed in the newspaper article, a11(1
McCharles had not stated Johnston
was a liar, the deputy judge said,
The article quoted McCharles as
saying he had "lots of meat" to take to
a lawyer for a slander suit.
In dismissing the claim, Koprowski
ordered Johnston to pay $2,384 1n
court costs, part of the $24,568 judg-
ment against Johnston.
'Ihe cases were the culmination of a
long-standing conflict between the
two men that erupted in a heated
exchange at the council meeting. And
Johnston's comments at the meeting
weren't the first time he'd belittled
McCharles, Koprowski stated in the
judgment.
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Come join more than 200 Volunteers who share their talents and skills with our
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Wednesday, November 23, 2011 • Lakeshore Advance 11
QM! Agency
Zurich Agriculture: Backbone of poultry section
The four daughters of Clifford and Laura Pepper stand in front of the display case that is In memory
of their parents. Clifford and Laura who were the backbone of the the poultry section of the Zurich
Agricultural Society for many years. Both exhibited poultry, and Clifford was a Past President of
the Zurich Agriculural Society as well as poultry judge travelling across Canada. The family made
a sizeable donation and.the beautiful display case was crafted under the supervision of Sylvia
Neeb (absent from the picture) and now adorns the wall of the Zurich Community Arena displaying
memorabilia of the Zurich Fair. In the front tow Joan Kanmerer, London, Ruthanne Negrijn, Exeter, and
Teresa Hendriks, Zurich, Treasurer of the Fairboard, Back Row Doris Weigand , Exeter Marion Miller
Dashwood and Joan Van Sllgtenhorst,
President of the Fairboard
NOTICE
Please be advised that Casual
Industries Inc. Hwy. 83, Grand
Bend will be closing for the season
on Saturday, November 26, 2011.
Any required pick-ups or purchases
- gift certificates etc. should be
completed by that date.
Thank you for your support
this past year and best wishes
to all.
MANAGEMENT
SAVE UP To
Sat. Nov. 19 to Sat. Dec. 3
Sal•s and Meryl**
404 Erie Str••t, Stratford 519-273-0976