Former Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke is suing the internet!

Well maybe not the internet but he is suing a series of anonymous internet posters for spreading rumours and lies about him.

Burke, through his counsel, Peter Gall of Heenan Blaikie LLP, is alledging that the defendants have “Spread Lies about Brian over the internet, following Brian’s dismissal as GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs.” He is suing for damages as well as asking the court for an injunction stopping the internet posters from posting any more of these rumours and lies against him.

The suit names John Does #1 – #18 and gives their internet pseudonyms. They are:

“NOFIXEDADDRESS”, “CAMBARKERFAN”, “LAVY16”, “MBSKIDMORE”, “TULOWD”, “LOOB”, “NAGGAH”, “MOWERMAN”, “AARONP18”, “STEVE”, “KABOOMIN8”,“THEZBRAD”, “SLOBBERFACE”, “POONERMAN”, “ISOLATEDCIRCUIT”, “KANADA KEV”, “NCOGNITO” AND “SIR PSYCHO SEXY”.

Burke’s claim alleges that these anonymous internet users were spreading lies that Burke had a sexual relationship with a female sports reporter, and may be the father of her child. Burke denies that these allegations are true in any way shape or form.

The claim reads, “The Defamatory Statements were made with the knowledge that they were false or with a reckless disregard for their truth.” and further “The Defamatory Statements have been published, republished, downloaded, viewed and commented on by persons in British Columbia and Ontario and throughout Canada and the United States by various means, including through email, internet bulletin board postings, Facebook pages and Twitter messages, and have harmed the Plaintiff’s reputation in, amongst other jurisdictions, British Columbia, Ontario, and other parts of Canada and the United States.”

“In publishing the Defamatory Statements, the Defendants were motivated by actual and express malice, and had the intention of damaging the Plaintiff’s reputation.”

We caution that these are allegations only, and that the claims will need to be proven in court. The identities of the named internet users will also need to be proven before any actions can be taken.

The suit was filed in B.C. Supreme Court.

You can read the entire originating claim here.

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