Three former Ontario nurses whose social media posts spread vaccine misinformation and COVID-19 conspiracy theories have appealed the dismissal of a $1-million libel suit against two of their critics — a suit the lower court judge dismissed as “puzzling” and, on appeal, another court said had “a low chance of success.”

Kristen Nagle, Kristal Pitter and Sarah Choujounian, who sit on the board of directors for Canadian Frontline Nurses, launched their libel lawsuit against the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) and Comox, B.C.-based media outlet Together News Inc.(TNI) last January.

In their court filings, the plaintiffs alleged separate editorials published by the defendants critiquing their roles in organizing nationwide protests outside Canadian hospitals during the pandemic caused them “ridicule, hatred and contempt,” and “injured in their feelings, their personal and professional character and reputation.”

Last December, the lawsuit was dismissed as a SLAPP, or strategic lawsuit against public participation, a legal term used to describe gag proceedings meant to silence critics on matters of public interest.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/anti-vaxx-nurses-libel-suit-ontario-1.6885134

 

HOW HIGH DO THEY HAVE TO APPEAL BEFORE THEIR ARGUMENTS ARE HEARD? IS A FAIR TRIAL STILL POSSIBLE IN CANADA?