Blogger Will Sue Newspaper And Reporter For Defamation
Businessman and Internet publisher Stephen Pate has served notice of intent to sue the Charlottetown Guardian newspaper and senior political reporter Wayne Thibodeau under the PEI Defamation Act.
PRlog – Charlottetown – Businessman and Internet publisher Stephen Pate has served notice of intent to sue the Charlottetown Guardian newspaper and senior political reporter Wayne Thibodeau under the PEI Defamation Act.
Stephen Pate claims the Charlottetown Guardian defamed him in a recent newspaper article “Legislature press gallery votes to have Pate removed from accredited media.”
In his notice of intent to Alan Parish solicitor for the Guardian Pate claims “the Charlottetown Guardian and its reporter Nigel Armstrong have made false, malicious and injurious statements in print that have ruined my health and will make it difficult for me to act professionally in any capacity since it states I am dishonest, unethical, a lobbyist with partisan vested interests and a fraud.”
Pate has demanded the Guardian retract the story and issue an unequivocal apology before he files his claim in PEI court.
“Time is of the essence,” Pate wrote in a nine page notice to file a claim. “I specifically demand the article be removed immediately and that the Guardian print a full and complete retraction of the story immediately to at least ameliorate the situation to the greatest extent possible.”
The Guardian was reporting on a public meeting chaired and controlled by their senior political reporter Wayne Thibodeau and reporter Teresa Wright.
The meeting was called by Thibodeau and Wright to review Pate’s credentials as an accredited Legislative journalist.
Pate had been elected by Thibodeau and Wright only two weeks before as Secretary of the embryonic Press Gallery of the PEI Legislature.
However, Thibodeau changed his mind when the Legislative Speaker expressed her disdain for Pate the next day.
Pate publishes NJN Network, an internet news journal, which is known for being sharply critical of both the government and the media who report on them.
Thibodeau’s turnabout caused the two other executives on the board of the Press Gallery, Brendon Elliot of the CBC and Pate, to resign leaving the Guardian in control of the Press Gallery and the meeting.
Pate claims the Guardian’s actions have made his disability worse due to stress and anxiety. At the start of the meeting, Pate requested accommodation for his post polio syndrome. He asked for a morning meeting when he would not be tired and his leg not in great pain.
Thibodeau denied the request and Pate claims the Guardian article demeans his disability and request.
“I believe this is a clear case of disability abuse and discrimination,” said Pate. “Courts, tribunals, and Legislative committees have speedily granted my reasonable requests to meeting times better suited to the problems my disability creates.”
“Not only were the Guardian and Thibodeau violating my human rights, they showed behavior towards the disabled that is unconscionable to Canadians. I believe the abuse speaks to their motive to defame and use the meeting and newspaper as a bully-pulpit.”
The Guardian has not issued a response to Pate’s request.
12 Responses to 'Blogger Will Sue Newspaper And Reporter For Defamation'
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Hilarious! YOU’RE going to sue WAYNE for defamation!
Anything that might have been said at Monday’s meeting is only a small fraction of the libel you’ve committed against Thibodeau here on NJN.
Partisan non-partisan
23 Oct 09 at 11:39 am
Thanks for your comment.
We have not committed any libelous acts against Mr. Thibodeau to our knowledge.
The Guardian lawyer did allege defamation which is the term used on PEI but in the end they didn’t pursue a claim.
Stephen Pate
23 Oct 09 at 11:59 am
i’ve oftern questioned your skills and what experience, education and employment you’ve had to make you feel you are a “journalist”. calling yourself something and having others believe it can and will carry you only so far in life until you are found out – whether you are a journalist, advocate, or satirist – you’re act is wearing thin. i have a degree in journalism and have taught the subject for a number of years – you would come up very short in the program. as an advocate – all i can say is that i know several people with handicaps and to a person, they are horrified that you’ve appointed yourself their spokesperson. and as a satirist…well, it was George Kaufman who once said that it is satire that closes on Saturday night – i doubt you would have made it past the early matinee that afternoon. creative writing is the path for you, my friend – i especially love your ability to write in both the singular and plural, in both the first and third person, hiding behind your organization and titles and changing your identity when you’re called out.
eddy a
23 Oct 09 at 1:36 pm
I am sure you are enjoying yourself. For a journalist and supposedly well educated one your spelling and grammar are rather poor.
Prove it. What is your degree, what university and where did you teach? You sir are an impostor, a charlatan.
A real journalist in this matter would have more facts. You merely are engaging in argumentum ad hominem with little of interest.
Stephen Pate
23 Oct 09 at 1:58 pm
If my whole recollection of this matter is correct, Mr Pate was nominated and accepted as the treasurer for the newly formed press gallery. Upon finding out about this, The Speaker requested a removal/change. The issue here is that a Governmental official interfered and or influenced in what was or should have been an independent body’s actions. If the press gallery wanted to remove Pate or one of its own, on its own, so be it. This does not appear to be the case from my perspective.
Eric the Red
23 Oct 09 at 2:58 pm
Exactly Eric the red. This is the same veiw i also believe once the speaker interferred in the working of the Press Gang than things like freedom of the press were gone.
The reall issue at hand is here just what right did Wayne Thibedeau have to call ameeting to remove Pate.
How can a Journalist ever consider themselves a journalist again after bowing to the pressure of a Politician. It is obvious from Ghiz’s behavior this week in regards to mayne and his wife that Ghiz certainly likes to get his own way. i would very mcuh suspect that it was Ghiz who told the Speaker that she had to do something to get pate of the Press gallery executive.
I would think that pate should be doinga Freedom of Information request for all Corresponance between the Speaker and The Press gallery and also with the Premiers Office or The exececutive Council office in reagrds to Pate Himself.
I am sure Pate knows this but when he is the subject of any discussions or corespondence than he has legal right to access those documents no matter who they were between. If pate was discussed by the Speaker or the Premier or anyone else who falls under the Freedom of Information Act(which includes ALL Government) than he has right to see them.
Scott
23 Oct 09 at 8:30 pm
So he has some “poor grammar” and his spelling isn’t great. Who really cares! And why does a human need a degree to write? They do not. Too bad folks with degrees must compete with degree-less poor spellers who like to write. Wake up America! Put your drama out there and someone will likely blog about it.
dogkisses
24 Oct 09 at 5:08 pm