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Libel case against Toronto Mayor Rob Ford enters second day

A $6-million defamation lawsuit launched against Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is moving into its second day in court.

The case surrounds comments Ford made during his mayoral run in 2010. Both Ford and his brother, councillor Doug Ford, criticized a 2006 deal to re-award a 20-year lease to The Boardwalk Cafe, which is situated along an east Toronto beach, as well as vending rights to other areas along the beach.

The lease was awarded without a tender process and Ford alluded to the fact that the deal was illegal, telling the Toronto Sun that the deal “stink(s) to high heaven.” He made similar statements to a local radio station.

Cafe owner George Foulidis, who runs the business under his company Tuggs Inc., is now suing Ford for $6 million.

On the first day of the trial, Ford’s lawyers argued that the mayor made the comments about Tuggs Inc., and not about Foulidis himself. Part of their arguments also centred around the missing audio recording of the meeting with the Toronto Sun editorial board, a recording that former Sun editorial page editor Rob Granatstein (now senior producer for Canada.com) found on his computer and has since turned over to the Sun.

Ford is expected to testify on Friday. Jonathan Jenkins, the reporter who wrote the story, is also expected to appear in court.

Ford has been no stranger to court cases this year. In September, he appeared in court when he was accused of breaching the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act by using city resources for his personal football charity. The Judge is still deliberating in that case.

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