Chilliwack school trustee Carin Bondar said she was 91裸聊视频渞elieved and vindicated91裸聊视频� after winning her defamation suit against ex-trustee Barry Neufeld.

It was Neufeld91裸聊视频檚 characterization of Bondar on an internet talk show as 91裸聊视频渢hat striptease artist91裸聊视频� during the 2022 school board election campaign that was deemed defamatory by Justice K. Michael Stephens, in his reasons for judgment released April 11.

The judge ordered Neufeld to pay Bondar general damages of $35,000 and punitive damages of $10,000, adding that 91裸聊视频渘o defences were made out.91裸聊视频�

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In his reasons the judge said the impugned words were 91裸聊视频渙bjectively insulting (beyond mere words of abuse that injure a plaintiff91裸聊视频檚 feelings) and demeaning to Dr. Bondar, a woman who was running for school board trustee in her community,91裸聊视频� and noted Neufeld refused to apologize or retract the comment.

The judge91裸聊视频檚 reasons contend Mr. Neufeld was 91裸聊视频渋naccurately equating, or substantially equating, a fleeting image91裸聊视频� of Bondar being shown naked from behind in her science-focused video with that of a 91裸聊视频榮triptease artist.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淭his was an effort to discredit his opponent in a school board trustee election, which crossed the line and constituted defamation,91裸聊视频� Stephens wrote in his conclusion.

He said it was not an accurate characterization, and denied all three defences Neufeld presented during the trial of justification, fair comment and qualified privilege.

The judge pointed out the comment did not 91裸聊视频済ive the factual context for her performance: she was clothed for the vast majority of it; the topic of the spoken words was science-themed; and she did not remove her clothing.

91裸聊视频淚n short, she was not, and did not perform as, a striptease artist in the parody video.91裸聊视频�

Neufeld acted with 91裸聊视频渞eckless indifference as to the truth91裸聊视频� with the comment, the judge wrote, however he noted Neufeld testified that he 91裸聊视频渄id honestly believe Dr. Bondar was91裸聊视频� a striptease artist, and for that reason he denied aggravated damages.

The remark in question was referring to an educational video Bondar made on the topics of evolution and natural selection in 2014, a parody of the Miley Cyrus91裸聊视频� Wrecking Ball video.

91裸聊视频淚 am not a striptease artist, nor have I ever been one,91裸聊视频� Bondar said when she launched the lawsuit, adding she was an adjunct professor in biology at the University of the Fraser Valley. Her lawyer fired off a cease-and-desist letter to Neufeld, suggesting his remark was a deliberate attempt to damage Bondar91裸聊视频檚 reputation and hurt her chances of winning the election.

Neufeld had stated in court it was his 91裸聊视频渉onestly held belief 91裸聊视频� a person who makes a video first scantily clad, then totally nude, except for rubber gum boots, in my mind, that was a striptease artist.

91裸聊视频淎nd I knew my audience would know who I was referring to, but I did not mention her by name,91裸聊视频� Neufeld testified. 91裸聊视频淚t was not mudslinging, it was just a fact as I saw it 91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

The judge accepted his testimony that he subjectively believed it.

91裸聊视频淎lthough he was wrong in that belief, I find that that was his subjective honest belief, and case law 91裸聊视频渞equires that I find that such a subjective honest belief negates the possibility of finding actual malice on Mr. Neufeld91裸聊视频檚 part, and defeats a claim for aggravated damages.91裸聊视频�

The judge also dismissed the argument in Neufeld91裸聊视频檚 defence that Bondar had 91裸聊视频渨illingly entered an ideologically charged political arena91裸聊视频� that is known for use of 91裸聊视频渉arsh language aimed at discrediting one91裸聊视频檚 opponent.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淔urther I do not find that Dr. Bondar brought this action for a collateral purpose as Mr. Neufeld contends in his written submissions at trial. While Dr. Bondar was nevertheless elected as school board trustee, she has experienced stress and anxiety91裸聊视频� from the whole ordeal.

Neufeld said in an emailed statement about the judge91裸聊视频檚 decision: 91裸聊视频淚t was disappointing that I lost but not surprising: the judge was a recent Trudeau appointment. If she hopes to collect her damages, she will have to wait in line! Glen Hansman is trying to figure out how to get me to pay $220,000!91裸聊视频�

Upon being notified by her lawyer that they had won their lawsuit, Bondar said she felt 91裸聊视频渞elieved and vindicated91裸聊视频� because she had been prepared for the worst. It felt 91裸聊视频渟erendipitous91裸聊视频� as Bondar had just delivered a keynote speech at the Science Talk conference in Portland before a roomful of young science communicators.

91裸聊视频淚t feels healing. Now I can move forward.91裸聊视频�

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