Teachers’ union files $1M defamation lawsuit
CA LGA RY — The Alberta Teachers’ Association has filed a $1-million lawsuit against a longtime supporter and activist for the Alberta PC party over what the union alleges are false and malicious tweets suggesting the ATA supports and condones pedophiles.
In a statement of claim filed in Court of Queen’s Bench, the teachers’ association accuses Piotr Pilarski of making defamatory comments on Twitter “intended to subject the ATA to ridicule, hatred and contempt.”
The ATA, in its claim, said Pilarski’s tweets suggest the association is “supportive of, is unconcerned about, or condones pedophilia” and that the association does not properly discipline teachers who are found to be pedophiles or have committed child sexual abuse.
“Pilarski’s malicious, highhanded, callous and arrogant conduct displays a wanton and flagrant disregard for the rights of the ATA,” lawyers representing the association write in the claim.
T he ATA is seek i ng $500,000 in general damages and $500,000 in punitive damages, as well as an injunction restraining Pilarski from publishing or republishing the allegedly defamatory words.
Pilarski, the claim notes, was the campaign manager for Calgary MLA Sandra Jansen, the vice-chair of the Task Force for Teaching Excellence — a committee commissioned by Education Minister Jeff Johnson.
Further, the ATA claims Pilarski refused to remove his tweets or issue an apology after its legal counsel delivered a letter asking for their removal and an apology.
Pilarski’s tweets have since been deleted, and on June 6 he tweeted: “#ata as per your letter, I apologize.”
He declined to comment for this story.
But Pilarski’s Twitter apology won’t sway the association from seeking damages, an ATA spokesman said in an email to Postmedia News.
Jonathon Teghtmeyer said the apology wast weeted after the statement of claim had been filed. “If Mr. Pilarski chooses to rely on it, it will be one of the circumstances to be considered by the court,” Teghtmeyer said. “Although the message may look like an apology, it is not adequate — it is too little, too late.”
Although the comments were directed against an organization rather than an individual, the ATA has every right to pursue a defamation lawsuit, said Averie McNary, a law professor at the University of Alberta.
Conversely, Pilarski could evoke a freedom-of-speech argument and that he was voicing his opinion.