Claims says petition defamed principal
Nov 01, 2007 - 10:10 PM
By Jeff Mitchell
DURHAM -- The Durham District School Board has made good on its threats of legal action against a parent who launched an on-line petition complaining about a principal, slapping the Whitby man with a $100,000 lawsuit for defamation.
In the suit, filed Tuesday, the board claims Paul MacGregor's petition calling for disciplinary action against Brooklin Village Public School principal Susan Reed impugns the principal's reputation and that of the board and demands an apology and retraction.
"The implications of the website are that Susan Reed is incompetent, lazy, stubborn, unfair, unreasonable, critical, rude and does not act in the best interests of her students and that the Durham District School Board is equally complicit in not removing her from her job as principal of said school," the suit says. "These implications are false and defamatory."
The board also called on the court to order Mr. MacGregor to take the on-line petition off the Internet and to cease publishing comments about the principal and the board.
The lawsuit contains claims that have not been proven in court. Mr. MacGregor indicated his intention to fight it.
"I earn $13 an hour as a factory worker and am willing to sell my house to pay for this countersuit," he said.
In an earlier interview, Mr. MacGregor said he'd approached his local trustee, John Dolstra, at the end of the last school year to express his frustration over several disagreements he'd had with Ms. Reed. He said Mr. Dolstra advised him to start a petition.
Mr. Dolstra neither confirmed nor denied that claim; he would not comment further on the issue.
The online petition listed a number of issues at the school and invited supporters to sign; several did, with some contributors, including parents and students at the school, adding comments.
On Oct. 9 the board sent Mr. MacGregor a letter ordering him to discontinue the on-line petition and threatening legal action if he did not comply. He refused and was served with the lawsuit Tuesday.
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