Скачать или смотреть He Sued for Defamation… and Got $100. (Case note)

In McEwan v McDaniel [2020] QDC 321, an MMA gear business owner sued over a Facebook video and comments calling him a “weasel,” a “petty little man,” and saying his business “sucks.”

The defendant didn’t defend the claim, so default judgment was entered — but that didn’t guarantee big money.

The court found:
• No real evidence of reputational harm
• No proof of financial loss
• No clear baseline reputation in the MMA community
• Evidence suggesting the sponsorship breakdown was due to the plaintiff’s own behaviour

Because the plaintiff couldn’t prove serious harm, the court awarded just $100 in damages.

The case shows that even if statements are defamatory, you must prove real harm to succeed in a meaningful way.

General information only — not legal advice.

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