Greenpeace says forest suit unfair

TORONTO — A forestry company’s multimillion-dollar defamation claim against Greenpeace is a vexatious abuse of the courts, the environmental group says in new Canadian legal filings.

In calling on an Ontario court to dismiss the lawsuit without a hearing on its merits, Greenpeace argues that Montreal-based Resolute Forest Products’ claim is little more than an attempt at gagging a vocal critic.

“The Canadian action seeks millions of dollars in damages while imposing overwhelming litigation costs by way of a strategy of fighting every point, demanding production from every possible witness, and seeking to expand the litigation as broadly as possible,” the motion application states. “The Resolute plaintiffs are also strategically using the existence of two parallel proceedings to finesse or circumvent difficulties encountered in the other jurisdiction.”

In 2013, Resolute filed the $7 million defamation lawsuit in Ontario over a Greenpeace campaign that was critical of the multinational company’s practices in the boreal forests of northern Ontario and Quebec. Among other things, Greenpeace had accused Resolute of destroying the forest.

While the eco-group has apologized for making some false statements related to the destruction of caribou habitat, it argues its campaign concerns “matters of considerable public interest” and therefore should enjoy litigation protection.

The group accuses Resolute of suing in Ontario to avoid Quebec free-speech legislation that might have precluded the action.

Shane Moffatt, head of Greenpeace Canada’s forest campaign and a defendant in the Ontario case, said Resolute is bent on silencing the organization.