Daniel Iny questions the merits of Rob Ford’s threatened lawsuit
The print edition of today’s National Post includes a story on the likelihood that Mayor Rob Ford’s threats to sue former staffers will proceed.
The Post reports that Ford threatened to sue his former staffers for telling police about some of his activities, including an allegation that Ford kept company with suspected sex workers. The story includes Daniel Iny’s assessment of the strength of any potential defamation case that Ford might commence.
“It’s hard to see how these allegations could possibly lower Mayor Ford’s reputation in the minds of right-thinking people,” said Daniel Iny, a civil litigation lawyer. “Mayor Ford’s reputation is so low right now that it could be hard for him to prove, even if the allegations are … false, that they damaged his reputation any further.”
The ex-staffers, who simply “had a legal and/or moral duty to co-operate with the police in their investigation and answer the police questions … don’t have to defend their reputation,” said Mr. Iny. Mr. Ford, on the other hand, “will be putting his reputation at issue” by moving along with the case.
Based on Mr. Ford’s recent admissions of drug and alcohol use, “one would expect that a lawyer would want a rather large retainer to take on this case.” And if he chooses to move forward, said Mr. Iny, he had better ensure that there are no other revelations to come.