Alberta Court Of Queen's Bench Accepts Defamation Defense Of Qualified Privilege

In Franchuk v Schick, 2014 ABQB 249, Justice Lee of the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta assessed whether a sexual harassment complaint made in 2004 by the Defendant ("Schick"), about the Plaintiff ("Franchuk"), was defamatory. Schick, the sole administrator of the Lakeland Rural Electric Association ("REA"), claimed that Franchuk, a Director for REA, sexually harassed her when he allegedly told her that he would "take her out" or that he would "do more than discuss work." In response to these advances Schick approached the President of the REA for assistance. Upon the President's request for a written complaint Schick sent the Board of Directors a letter outlining the alleged sexual harassment. Franchuk later began an action claiming $10,000 in damages against Schick on the basis that the letter...