Ex-Ontario Tory leader Patrick Brown files $8M defamation lawsuit against CTV
TORONTO — Former Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown has filed a defamation lawsuit against CTV News over its reporting of what he alleges are false accusations of sexual misconduct.
Brown, who stepped down in January hours after the CTV report, alleges the network and several journalists involved in the story acted maliciously and irresponsibly in publishing the accusations brought forward by two women.
In his statement of claim, the Barrie, Ont., politician says CTV and its reporters failed to properly scrutinize and verify the allegations, which date back to his time as a federal MP. He further alleges the network gave him only hours to respond before broadcasting the story on Jan. 24.
“The defendants gave the appearance of delivering a fully researched expose of a pattern of abusive and predatory conduct by Mr. Brown. In fact, the defendants crafted a distorted and false narrative, omitting facts counter to the narrative and failing to verify the accuracy of others that would alter the narrative,” the document says.