Another victory for Conrad Black
Appeal of Black’s libel suits dismissed and media baron awarded $35,000 in costs
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The appeal by a group of directors, advisers and a vice president of Hollinger International against six libel suits filed by Conrad Black has been dismissed by the Ontario Court of Appeal. Black alleged in the suits that press releases and reports posted on the company’s website, and later reprinted in the Canadian media, defamed him. The defendants said there was no connection between the reports and Ontario, and that the trial should be held in Illinois or New York. The presiding judge dismissed the appeal because she found the reports were directed to Canadian media, and that Black’s established reputation in Ontario had been damaged. Black is currently out on bail in the U.S. while waiting to hear whether his 2007 conviction for defrauding Hollinger investors will be overturned.