BREAKING: Ontario PC Leader Slammed With Sexual Misconduct Allegations
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Patrick Brown back as leader of Ontario PCs?
Antonella Artuso
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Published:
February 15, 2018
Updated:
February 15, 2018 7:32 PM EST
Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown speaks to party members at their policy conference at the Toronto Congress Centre on Saturday November 25, 2017. Michael Peake/Toronto Sun
The results of the Ontario PC leadership campaign could be thrown out because Patrick Brown never officially resigned, lawyer Nicholas Charitsis says.
Charitsis, who describes himself as a long-time friend and supporter of but does not speak for Brown, said he has been assured by the former leader that he never resigned – not in writing, on social media, in a public statement or to his party caucus.
Charitsis made it clear he was not speaking as representative for Brown, but just putting his thoughts on Facebook.
The PC Party constitution only allows for a leadership race when the existing leader dies, resigns or retires, he said.
In response to questions about his resignation and leadership, Brown tweeted, “I appreciate the enthusiasm but I did not authorize this. I am solely focused on clearing my name, not technicalities.”
If a leader loses a general election, the party does hold a leadership review with a secret ballot, Charitsis said.
A judge could be asked to halt the current leadership compaign underway, or to set aside the results, he said.
“I think the public should know before they start donating any more money to the candidates, that their money is going to go all to waste,” Charitsis said.
A PC Party spokesperson declined an opportunity to comment on these assertions.
Following a media conference held the same day that allegations broke on CTV News that two women were accusing Brown of sexual misconduct, the then-leader told reporters that he would be at work the next day.
Overnight, a statement appeared on the PC website supposedly from Brown.
“These allegations are false and have been difficult to hear. However, defeating Kathleen Wynne in 2018 is more important than one individual. For this reason, after consulting with caucus, friends and family I have decided to step down as Leader of the Ontario PC Party. I will remain on as a MPP while I definitively clear my name from these false allegations.”
Brown had not publicly countered the statement but Charitsis said he told him he never wrote it.
“I said ‘Who wrote that?’ He said, ‘One of my staff members.’ I said, ‘Did you authorize it, did you consent to it being released?’ He said, ‘No.’”
Patrick Brown back as leader of Ontario PCs? | Toronto Sun
Antonella Artuso
More from Antonella Artuso
Published:
February 15, 2018
Updated:
February 15, 2018 7:32 PM EST
Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown speaks to party members at their policy conference at the Toronto Congress Centre on Saturday November 25, 2017. Michael Peake/Toronto Sun
The results of the Ontario PC leadership campaign could be thrown out because Patrick Brown never officially resigned, lawyer Nicholas Charitsis says.
Charitsis, who describes himself as a long-time friend and supporter of but does not speak for Brown, said he has been assured by the former leader that he never resigned – not in writing, on social media, in a public statement or to his party caucus.
Charitsis made it clear he was not speaking as representative for Brown, but just putting his thoughts on Facebook.
The PC Party constitution only allows for a leadership race when the existing leader dies, resigns or retires, he said.
In response to questions about his resignation and leadership, Brown tweeted, “I appreciate the enthusiasm but I did not authorize this. I am solely focused on clearing my name, not technicalities.”
If a leader loses a general election, the party does hold a leadership review with a secret ballot, Charitsis said.
A judge could be asked to halt the current leadership compaign underway, or to set aside the results, he said.
“I think the public should know before they start donating any more money to the candidates, that their money is going to go all to waste,” Charitsis said.
A PC Party spokesperson declined an opportunity to comment on these assertions.
Following a media conference held the same day that allegations broke on CTV News that two women were accusing Brown of sexual misconduct, the then-leader told reporters that he would be at work the next day.
Overnight, a statement appeared on the PC website supposedly from Brown.
“These allegations are false and have been difficult to hear. However, defeating Kathleen Wynne in 2018 is more important than one individual. For this reason, after consulting with caucus, friends and family I have decided to step down as Leader of the Ontario PC Party. I will remain on as a MPP while I definitively clear my name from these false allegations.”
Brown had not publicly countered the statement but Charitsis said he told him he never wrote it.
“I said ‘Who wrote that?’ He said, ‘One of my staff members.’ I said, ‘Did you authorize it, did you consent to it being released?’ He said, ‘No.’”
Patrick Brown back as leader of Ontario PCs? | Toronto Sun
EXCLUSIVE: Patrick Brown passed lie-detector test about sex allegations
James Wallace
More from James Wallace
Antonella Artuso
More from Antonella Artuso
Published:
February 16, 2018
Updated:
February 16, 2018 9:04 PM EST
Batra- What the f*ck?! 2:49
Patrick Brown took and passed a lie-detector test that involved detailed questions about controversial sexual misconduct allegations against him.
The test, administered by one of Canada’s top polygraph experts, was conducted in two stages on Feb. 14 and Feb 15 in Markham and arranged by Brown’s lawyer, prominent Toronto defence attorney Mark Sandler.
According to a copy of the polygraph report obtained by the Toronto Sun, Brown was asked about the specific accusations made against by him by two women.
There was no deception
John Galianos, longtime polygrapher
In a news story that CTV News aired on Jan 24, the first accuser alleged she was in high school and underage some 10 years ago when she met Brown in a Barrie bar with a “mutual friend” both she and Brown knew. Brown, she said, fed her drinks and invited her back to his home where he gave her a tour that ended up in his upstairs bedroom, where Brown closed the bedroom door, “exposed his penis to her” and pressured her into performing oral sex on him.
The second accuser, who worked as a summer student in Brown’s office in 2013, also maintained he fed her drinks following a Barrie hockey fundraiser and, during an after-party at his home, kissed her without permission then tried to pressure her into sex in his bedroom, which she described to CTV as a “sexual assault.”
John Galianos, who has conducted polygraph tests for some 40 years and has extensive expertise and credentials, asked Brown a series of questions about both sets of allegations.
Brown was asked whether he asked the first accuser to perform oral sex on him, whether he put his penis in her mouth, whether he exposed himself to her, and whether he was lying about denying he received oral sex from her.
In each case, Brown not only answered truthfully, Galianos said, but exceeded the standards use to determine truth by the FBI and RCMP.
“There was no deception,” he told the Sun.
Regarding the second set of allegations, Brown was asked to explain his version of what happened — specifically that the second accuser came into his bedroom and kissed him, not the other way around as she described. And that afterwards, because he felt she might be embarrassed, he drove her home.
Again, Brown showed no sign of deception, Galianos said.
Brown was tested twice, once on each set of allegations, to ensure no “contamination” between the two sets of allegations took place, he said.
“Upon evaluating the lengthy pre-test interviews and the polygraphic charts, I am of the opinion that Mr. Patrick Brown is being truthful while answering the relevant questions asked of him during the tests,” Galianos said at the conclusion of his seven-page report.
Sandler, the lawyer representing Brown, said the polygraph expert offered an “unequivocal opinion (Brown) is being truthful in denying the sexual misconduct allegations.”
“(Brown) was asked specific questions including exposing his penis, or having oral sex performed on him,” Sandler said. “These specific questions were asked. He was regarded as truthful in responding to these allegations and in denying them.”
“And in relation to the second allegation he was truthful in denying that he had initiated any sexual activity with the second accuser,” Sandler added. “He has described the fact that she kissed him, that he was uninterested. He immediately drove her home.”
Polygraph tests are not admissible as evidence in Canadian court but are in some parts of the U.S. and studies suggest they are accurate about 90% of the time. They are also used in law enforcement to help rule out or determine whether suspects may be lying.
Galianos was recently employed by CBC’s The Fifth Estate to test claims made by Kerry Winter, the cousin of Apotex founder Barry Sherman. Winter failed the lie detector test.
CTV and the lawyer representing the women who made the claim continue to stand by their story. CTV has called Brown’s complaints about their reporting “groundless and wrong.”
‘Absolute lies’: Patrick Brown refutes sex misconduct allegations
‘I AM SUING CTV’: Patrick Brown launches lawsuit over sexual misconduct report
Fedeli boots Patrick Brown out of PC caucus
Patrick Brown entering Ontario PC leadership race
Sandler suggested the polygraph results, along with a growing number of inconsistencies in the stories of the accusers, clearly support Brown’s position that the allegations are lies.
There continue to be some real questions about how CTV put this together and the due diligence they showed
Mark Sandler, lawyer representing Patrick Brown
“I have to say I personally found it extremely troubling that CTV would bring this allegation on him just a few hours before it was going to air when any reasonable period of time would have enabled him to put together a detailed response, including the witnesses coming forward who have corroborated key features of what he has to say,” Sandler said.
“I’m troubled by the fact that any due diligence on this story should have revealed…key witnesses who could have demonstrated that aspects of these stories were false,” he said.
“To have an allegation made on national television that he’s plying an underage girl with alcohol when the most rudimentary due diligence could have told you it couldn’t have happened.”
“The most rudimentary due diligence could have demonstrated that there were people who were around during the second accusation that could undermine the suggestion that there’s some extended sexual activity taking place,” he said. “And what I also found somewhat disturbing, and I’m not sure the whole story is out yet, is the relationship that existed between the second accuser and one of the key reporters on this story from CTV.”
“CTV has said they’ve done some due diligence in this area,” Sandler said. “To be frank, I don’t see how they could have done any due diligence to leap to the conclusion that…the relationship wasn’t problematic.”
“There continue to be some real questions about how CTV put this together and the due diligence they showed,” he added.
jawallace@postmedia.com
aartuso@postmedia.com
EXCLUSIVE: Patrick Brown passed lie-detector test about sex allegations | Toronto Sun
James Wallace
More from James Wallace
Antonella Artuso
More from Antonella Artuso
Published:
February 16, 2018
Updated:
February 16, 2018 9:04 PM EST
Batra- What the f*ck?! 2:49
Patrick Brown took and passed a lie-detector test that involved detailed questions about controversial sexual misconduct allegations against him.
The test, administered by one of Canada’s top polygraph experts, was conducted in two stages on Feb. 14 and Feb 15 in Markham and arranged by Brown’s lawyer, prominent Toronto defence attorney Mark Sandler.
According to a copy of the polygraph report obtained by the Toronto Sun, Brown was asked about the specific accusations made against by him by two women.
There was no deception
John Galianos, longtime polygrapher
In a news story that CTV News aired on Jan 24, the first accuser alleged she was in high school and underage some 10 years ago when she met Brown in a Barrie bar with a “mutual friend” both she and Brown knew. Brown, she said, fed her drinks and invited her back to his home where he gave her a tour that ended up in his upstairs bedroom, where Brown closed the bedroom door, “exposed his penis to her” and pressured her into performing oral sex on him.
The second accuser, who worked as a summer student in Brown’s office in 2013, also maintained he fed her drinks following a Barrie hockey fundraiser and, during an after-party at his home, kissed her without permission then tried to pressure her into sex in his bedroom, which she described to CTV as a “sexual assault.”
John Galianos, who has conducted polygraph tests for some 40 years and has extensive expertise and credentials, asked Brown a series of questions about both sets of allegations.
Brown was asked whether he asked the first accuser to perform oral sex on him, whether he put his penis in her mouth, whether he exposed himself to her, and whether he was lying about denying he received oral sex from her.
In each case, Brown not only answered truthfully, Galianos said, but exceeded the standards use to determine truth by the FBI and RCMP.
“There was no deception,” he told the Sun.
Regarding the second set of allegations, Brown was asked to explain his version of what happened — specifically that the second accuser came into his bedroom and kissed him, not the other way around as she described. And that afterwards, because he felt she might be embarrassed, he drove her home.
Again, Brown showed no sign of deception, Galianos said.
Brown was tested twice, once on each set of allegations, to ensure no “contamination” between the two sets of allegations took place, he said.
“Upon evaluating the lengthy pre-test interviews and the polygraphic charts, I am of the opinion that Mr. Patrick Brown is being truthful while answering the relevant questions asked of him during the tests,” Galianos said at the conclusion of his seven-page report.
Sandler, the lawyer representing Brown, said the polygraph expert offered an “unequivocal opinion (Brown) is being truthful in denying the sexual misconduct allegations.”
“(Brown) was asked specific questions including exposing his penis, or having oral sex performed on him,” Sandler said. “These specific questions were asked. He was regarded as truthful in responding to these allegations and in denying them.”
“And in relation to the second allegation he was truthful in denying that he had initiated any sexual activity with the second accuser,” Sandler added. “He has described the fact that she kissed him, that he was uninterested. He immediately drove her home.”
Polygraph tests are not admissible as evidence in Canadian court but are in some parts of the U.S. and studies suggest they are accurate about 90% of the time. They are also used in law enforcement to help rule out or determine whether suspects may be lying.
Galianos was recently employed by CBC’s The Fifth Estate to test claims made by Kerry Winter, the cousin of Apotex founder Barry Sherman. Winter failed the lie detector test.
CTV and the lawyer representing the women who made the claim continue to stand by their story. CTV has called Brown’s complaints about their reporting “groundless and wrong.”
‘Absolute lies’: Patrick Brown refutes sex misconduct allegations
‘I AM SUING CTV’: Patrick Brown launches lawsuit over sexual misconduct report
Fedeli boots Patrick Brown out of PC caucus
Patrick Brown entering Ontario PC leadership race
Sandler suggested the polygraph results, along with a growing number of inconsistencies in the stories of the accusers, clearly support Brown’s position that the allegations are lies.
There continue to be some real questions about how CTV put this together and the due diligence they showed
Mark Sandler, lawyer representing Patrick Brown
“I have to say I personally found it extremely troubling that CTV would bring this allegation on him just a few hours before it was going to air when any reasonable period of time would have enabled him to put together a detailed response, including the witnesses coming forward who have corroborated key features of what he has to say,” Sandler said.
“I’m troubled by the fact that any due diligence on this story should have revealed…key witnesses who could have demonstrated that aspects of these stories were false,” he said.
“To have an allegation made on national television that he’s plying an underage girl with alcohol when the most rudimentary due diligence could have told you it couldn’t have happened.”
“The most rudimentary due diligence could have demonstrated that there were people who were around during the second accusation that could undermine the suggestion that there’s some extended sexual activity taking place,” he said. “And what I also found somewhat disturbing, and I’m not sure the whole story is out yet, is the relationship that existed between the second accuser and one of the key reporters on this story from CTV.”
“CTV has said they’ve done some due diligence in this area,” Sandler said. “To be frank, I don’t see how they could have done any due diligence to leap to the conclusion that…the relationship wasn’t problematic.”
“There continue to be some real questions about how CTV put this together and the due diligence they showed,” he added.
jawallace@postmedia.com
aartuso@postmedia.com
EXCLUSIVE: Patrick Brown passed lie-detector test about sex allegations | Toronto Sun
Andrea....right... more of a raving feminist than justyn, she too sez all allegations of hanky panky are gospel truth as if etched in stone, she would immediately can him.
Curious democratic situation where there is no party really worthy of support leaving the more and more poular lesser of evils choice giving mr. brown a clear very wide edge.
https://globalnews.ca/video/3986412/andrea-horwath-says-patrick-brown-should-resign-mpp-seat
Patrick Brown launches libel suit against CTV
James Wallace
More from James Wallace
Published:
February 24, 2018
Updated:
February 24, 2018 11:41 PM EST
Patrick Brown meets with the Toronto Sun's Antonella Artuso & Jamie Wallace a day after registering his candidacy for the leadership of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, on Saturday February 17, 2018. Stan Behal/Toronto Sun/Postmedia NetworkStan Behal / Stan Behal/Toronto Sun
Patrick Brown, as he has for some time suggested he would, launched a libel lawsuit Friday against CTV News over their now infamous tale of sexual misconduct.
The lawsuit claims CTV broadcast a “false, malicious, irresponsible and defamatory newscast of and concerning him” on Jan. 24 that “have subjected him to ridicule, hatred and contempt and have caused and will continue to cause damage to his reputation personally and in the way of his office, profession, trade and calling.”
By now it would be difficult to find anyone in this province who hasn’t heard about the CTV story that alleged Brown fed alcohol to two young women and tried to have his way with them.
In one case, CTV alleged, the accuser was in high school some 10 years ago when she and a mutual friend met Brown in a Barrie bar and illegally started feeding her drinks. The three left the bar for Brown’s home, where in his upstairs bedroom he pressured the teen into performing oral sex on him.
Except, as is now known, it didn’t and couldn’t have happened that way.
Brown initially denied wrongdoing but in the current #MeToo environment, who believed him?
Then in an interview with the Toronto Sun, Brown provided evidence that he lived in a ground-floor apartment that didn’t even have a bedroom door when the accuser was in high school. The Sun spoke with the “mutual friend” the accuser named to CTV who said the night in the Barrie bar had never happened.
CTV then reported that the first accuser had changed part of her story, saying she had been 19 and of legal drinking age at the time of the alleged incident but was sticking to the main allegations in the story, as was CTV.
The second accuser was a former summer student who worked for Brown in 2013 and alleged Brown plied her with booze at a charity fundraiser in Barrie and subsequently at an after-party at his house kissed and groped her and tried to pressure her into having sex in a manner she described as a “sexual assault.”
Brown vehemently denied those allegations as well, and in his interview with the Sun said the young woman had in fact, kissed him, not the other way around, and that seeing she’d been drinking and figuring she’d be embarrassed he promptly took her home.
Ontario PC Leadership candidate Patrick Brown leaves the Ontario PC Party Head Offices in Toronto on Tuesday, February 20, 2018.
Multiple sources contacted by the Sun confirmed at least parts of Brown’s version of events. A woman he had been dating at the time, and who was at the after-party that night, said she’d been “annoyed” because the young woman had been following Brown around like a puppy all night. A man who the young woman alleged had been in Brown’s bedroom briefly with her and Brown told the Sun that never happened. Another woman told the Sun the second accuser confided in her the following day that there had indeed been a kiss, but that nothing more had happened.
Brown passed two lie detector tests recently that was conducted by one of Canada’s most reputable polygraph experts that not only confirmed his version of events in both cases but exceeded standards of truthfulness used by the RCMP and FBI.
The libel suit filed Friday contains the following sentence: “The full extent of the damages suffered by Patrick Brown is unknown,” which in the dangerously understated language of such suits potentially means a dollar figure with a lot of zeroes at the end at some point.
For now, there no figure was attached to the suit, although there was the standard demand for “a full apology and retraction” from CTV.
CTV has publicly and repeatedly said they stand by their story but have not yet issued a statement about the lawsuit. In a statement issued Saturday, the broadcaster said “CTV News stands by its reporting and will actively defend its journalism in court,” CBC reported.
The political drama, meanwhile, and the impact depending on where you sit of the explosive or toxic CTV story continues to impact the Ontario PC leadership race, which Brown has rejoined in a bid to recapture his former position, and indeed the Ontario election.
The courtroom drama, which one way or another will get to the heart of the allegations though those facts may never become public, has just begun.
Former Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown sends notice of libel to CTV News - Toronto - CBC News
Patrick Brown launches libel suit against CTV | Toronto Sun
James Wallace
More from James Wallace
Published:
February 24, 2018
Updated:
February 24, 2018 11:41 PM EST
Patrick Brown meets with the Toronto Sun's Antonella Artuso & Jamie Wallace a day after registering his candidacy for the leadership of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, on Saturday February 17, 2018. Stan Behal/Toronto Sun/Postmedia NetworkStan Behal / Stan Behal/Toronto Sun
Patrick Brown, as he has for some time suggested he would, launched a libel lawsuit Friday against CTV News over their now infamous tale of sexual misconduct.
The lawsuit claims CTV broadcast a “false, malicious, irresponsible and defamatory newscast of and concerning him” on Jan. 24 that “have subjected him to ridicule, hatred and contempt and have caused and will continue to cause damage to his reputation personally and in the way of his office, profession, trade and calling.”
By now it would be difficult to find anyone in this province who hasn’t heard about the CTV story that alleged Brown fed alcohol to two young women and tried to have his way with them.
In one case, CTV alleged, the accuser was in high school some 10 years ago when she and a mutual friend met Brown in a Barrie bar and illegally started feeding her drinks. The three left the bar for Brown’s home, where in his upstairs bedroom he pressured the teen into performing oral sex on him.
Except, as is now known, it didn’t and couldn’t have happened that way.
Brown initially denied wrongdoing but in the current #MeToo environment, who believed him?
Then in an interview with the Toronto Sun, Brown provided evidence that he lived in a ground-floor apartment that didn’t even have a bedroom door when the accuser was in high school. The Sun spoke with the “mutual friend” the accuser named to CTV who said the night in the Barrie bar had never happened.
CTV then reported that the first accuser had changed part of her story, saying she had been 19 and of legal drinking age at the time of the alleged incident but was sticking to the main allegations in the story, as was CTV.
The second accuser was a former summer student who worked for Brown in 2013 and alleged Brown plied her with booze at a charity fundraiser in Barrie and subsequently at an after-party at his house kissed and groped her and tried to pressure her into having sex in a manner she described as a “sexual assault.”
Brown vehemently denied those allegations as well, and in his interview with the Sun said the young woman had in fact, kissed him, not the other way around, and that seeing she’d been drinking and figuring she’d be embarrassed he promptly took her home.
Ontario PC Leadership candidate Patrick Brown leaves the Ontario PC Party Head Offices in Toronto on Tuesday, February 20, 2018.
Multiple sources contacted by the Sun confirmed at least parts of Brown’s version of events. A woman he had been dating at the time, and who was at the after-party that night, said she’d been “annoyed” because the young woman had been following Brown around like a puppy all night. A man who the young woman alleged had been in Brown’s bedroom briefly with her and Brown told the Sun that never happened. Another woman told the Sun the second accuser confided in her the following day that there had indeed been a kiss, but that nothing more had happened.
Brown passed two lie detector tests recently that was conducted by one of Canada’s most reputable polygraph experts that not only confirmed his version of events in both cases but exceeded standards of truthfulness used by the RCMP and FBI.
The libel suit filed Friday contains the following sentence: “The full extent of the damages suffered by Patrick Brown is unknown,” which in the dangerously understated language of such suits potentially means a dollar figure with a lot of zeroes at the end at some point.
For now, there no figure was attached to the suit, although there was the standard demand for “a full apology and retraction” from CTV.
CTV has publicly and repeatedly said they stand by their story but have not yet issued a statement about the lawsuit. In a statement issued Saturday, the broadcaster said “CTV News stands by its reporting and will actively defend its journalism in court,” CBC reported.
The political drama, meanwhile, and the impact depending on where you sit of the explosive or toxic CTV story continues to impact the Ontario PC leadership race, which Brown has rejoined in a bid to recapture his former position, and indeed the Ontario election.
The courtroom drama, which one way or another will get to the heart of the allegations though those facts may never become public, has just begun.
Former Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown sends notice of libel to CTV News - Toronto - CBC News
Patrick Brown launches libel suit against CTV | Toronto Sun
Ont. Tories drop lawsuit against ex-member
Canadian Press
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Published:
March 1, 2018
Updated:
March 1, 2018 4:04 PM EST
Jim Karahalios. (FACEBOOK)
TORONTO — Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives are dropping their legal battle against a former party member as they strive to present a united front following weeks of unparalleled chaos within their ranks.
The Tories’ interim leader, Vic Fedeli, says the party should not have sued Jim Karahalios and has decided to abandon its appeal of a court’s decision to dismiss the lawsuit, which was launched under former leader Patrick Brown.
Fedeli says the appeal would have been costly and unsuccessful, and donations made to party should not be spent on “hopeless lawsuits against loyal conservatives.”
The Tories sued Karahalios, alleging he was misusing the party’s membership list to advocate against Brown’s decisions and the carbon tax that formed the bedrock of the Tory platform.
An Ontario court threw out the lawsuit last year, calling it an attempt to quash dissent and limit expression on a matter of public interest.
Karahalios had also clashed with Brown over the party’s nominations process. Since Brown’s departure in January, the party has reopened two contested nominations.
In a statement released Thursday, Fedeli thanked Karahalios — who was stripped of his membership — for his efforts on the issue.
“No PC Party activist conducting grassroots campaigns in accordance with our party’s constitution should ever have to go through what Mr. Karahalios went through — barring him from our party’s convention, revoking his membership, and forcing him to defend against a frivolous and vexatious lawsuit,” he said.
“Our focus should be on unity and winning elections, not hopeless lawsuits against loyal conservatives.”
Karahalios said Thursday that reopening the nominations in two ridings is “a good first step” to restoring the party’s integrity.
He said his membership has not yet been reinstated as that decision lies with the party’s executive.
Ont. Tories drop lawsuit against ex-member | Toronto Sun
Canadian Press
More from Canadian Press
Published:
March 1, 2018
Updated:
March 1, 2018 4:04 PM EST
Jim Karahalios. (FACEBOOK)
TORONTO — Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives are dropping their legal battle against a former party member as they strive to present a united front following weeks of unparalleled chaos within their ranks.
The Tories’ interim leader, Vic Fedeli, says the party should not have sued Jim Karahalios and has decided to abandon its appeal of a court’s decision to dismiss the lawsuit, which was launched under former leader Patrick Brown.
Fedeli says the appeal would have been costly and unsuccessful, and donations made to party should not be spent on “hopeless lawsuits against loyal conservatives.”
The Tories sued Karahalios, alleging he was misusing the party’s membership list to advocate against Brown’s decisions and the carbon tax that formed the bedrock of the Tory platform.
An Ontario court threw out the lawsuit last year, calling it an attempt to quash dissent and limit expression on a matter of public interest.
Karahalios had also clashed with Brown over the party’s nominations process. Since Brown’s departure in January, the party has reopened two contested nominations.
In a statement released Thursday, Fedeli thanked Karahalios — who was stripped of his membership — for his efforts on the issue.
“No PC Party activist conducting grassroots campaigns in accordance with our party’s constitution should ever have to go through what Mr. Karahalios went through — barring him from our party’s convention, revoking his membership, and forcing him to defend against a frivolous and vexatious lawsuit,” he said.
“Our focus should be on unity and winning elections, not hopeless lawsuits against loyal conservatives.”
Karahalios said Thursday that reopening the nominations in two ridings is “a good first step” to restoring the party’s integrity.
He said his membership has not yet been reinstated as that decision lies with the party’s executive.
Ont. Tories drop lawsuit against ex-member | Toronto Sun
Patrick Brown files $8M defamation lawsuit against CTV
Antonella Artuso
More from Antonella Artuso
Published:
April 23, 2018
Updated:
April 23, 2018 5:38 PM EDT
Former Ontario PC Leader Patrick Brown sits in his chair as an Independent MPP as he listens to Finance Minister Charles Sousa deliver the Ontario government budget at Queen's Park in Toronto on March 28, 2018.Chris Young / THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO — Former Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown has launched an $8 million libel lawsuit against CTV News over allegations the broadcaster wrongly accused him of sexual misconduct.
A statement of claim filed Monday by Brown’s legal team says the “unprecedented” damages sought reflect the exceptional harm done to him.
“Mr. Brown also did and continues to suffer from stress, anxiety, hurt, humiliation, and embarrassment, and was and is emotionally devastated,” says the statement of claim, which has not been proven in court.
CTV spokesman Matthew Garrow said, “CTV News stands by its reporting and will vigorously defend it in court.”
The news organization reported that two young women, not identified, claimed they had been sexually preyed upon by Brown after they’d been drinking alcohol.
Brown alleges the network gave him only hours to respond before broadcasting the story on Jan. 24.
In one case, it was first reported that one of the women was still in high school and under legal drinking age when she was given alcohol by Brown and he then asked for oral sex.
Brown has denied both accounts, and after questions arose about her allegations, the later said she was of legal drinking age.
However, the woman have stated through CTV News that they otherwise stand by their accounts of the incidents, both claiming Brown brought them to his bedroom and tried to have sex while they were young and inebriated.
One of the women told the Toronto Sun she stands by her version of events.
The statement of claim seeks $4 million in general damages for defamation, $4 million in punitive damages, and special damages to be determined at trial.
“We consider the defamation of Patrick Brown by CTV to be the most egregious in Canadian history,” Brown lawyer Howard Winkler said in an email. “The damages sought in the statement of claim reflect this fact and will allow the court to impose what we believe should be an unprecedented amount to reflect the serious nature of the harm done to Mr. Brown and to punish CTV for its conduct.”
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Brown’s claim also seeks an injunction that would require CTV News to remove all broadcasts and publications under its control that allege he illegally provided an underage high school girl with alcohol and ultimately all references to the allegations.
“Prior to the broadcast and publication of the defamatory words, polls indicated that under Mr. Brown’s leadership, the ON PC Party was set to overtake the (Kathleen) Wynne Liberals,” the statement of claim says. “Mr. Brown was the presumptive next premier of Ontario … The widespread and sensationalized broadcast and publication of the defamatory words delivered an almost immediate death blow to Mr. Brown’s reputation and political career.”
Brown was forced out as his party’s leader after the allegations became public, and ran and then dropped out of the leadership race to replace him.
Ultimately, he was ousted as a member of the PC caucus and has opted not to run in the coming election as an independent.
“Regrettably, it is unlikely that the harm done by CTV will ever be fully repaired,” Winkler said. “This is why CTV owed such a high duty of responsibility to Mr. Brown and the public before they broadcast and published their stories.”
aartuso@postmedia.com
Patrick Brown files $8M defamation lawsuit against CTV | Toronto Sun
Antonella Artuso
More from Antonella Artuso
Published:
April 23, 2018
Updated:
April 23, 2018 5:38 PM EDT
Former Ontario PC Leader Patrick Brown sits in his chair as an Independent MPP as he listens to Finance Minister Charles Sousa deliver the Ontario government budget at Queen's Park in Toronto on March 28, 2018.Chris Young / THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO — Former Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown has launched an $8 million libel lawsuit against CTV News over allegations the broadcaster wrongly accused him of sexual misconduct.
A statement of claim filed Monday by Brown’s legal team says the “unprecedented” damages sought reflect the exceptional harm done to him.
“Mr. Brown also did and continues to suffer from stress, anxiety, hurt, humiliation, and embarrassment, and was and is emotionally devastated,” says the statement of claim, which has not been proven in court.
CTV spokesman Matthew Garrow said, “CTV News stands by its reporting and will vigorously defend it in court.”
The news organization reported that two young women, not identified, claimed they had been sexually preyed upon by Brown after they’d been drinking alcohol.
Brown alleges the network gave him only hours to respond before broadcasting the story on Jan. 24.
In one case, it was first reported that one of the women was still in high school and under legal drinking age when she was given alcohol by Brown and he then asked for oral sex.
Brown has denied both accounts, and after questions arose about her allegations, the later said she was of legal drinking age.
However, the woman have stated through CTV News that they otherwise stand by their accounts of the incidents, both claiming Brown brought them to his bedroom and tried to have sex while they were young and inebriated.
One of the women told the Toronto Sun she stands by her version of events.
The statement of claim seeks $4 million in general damages for defamation, $4 million in punitive damages, and special damages to be determined at trial.
“We consider the defamation of Patrick Brown by CTV to be the most egregious in Canadian history,” Brown lawyer Howard Winkler said in an email. “The damages sought in the statement of claim reflect this fact and will allow the court to impose what we believe should be an unprecedented amount to reflect the serious nature of the harm done to Mr. Brown and to punish CTV for its conduct.”
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Brown’s claim also seeks an injunction that would require CTV News to remove all broadcasts and publications under its control that allege he illegally provided an underage high school girl with alcohol and ultimately all references to the allegations.
“Prior to the broadcast and publication of the defamatory words, polls indicated that under Mr. Brown’s leadership, the ON PC Party was set to overtake the (Kathleen) Wynne Liberals,” the statement of claim says. “Mr. Brown was the presumptive next premier of Ontario … The widespread and sensationalized broadcast and publication of the defamatory words delivered an almost immediate death blow to Mr. Brown’s reputation and political career.”
Brown was forced out as his party’s leader after the allegations became public, and ran and then dropped out of the leadership race to replace him.
Ultimately, he was ousted as a member of the PC caucus and has opted not to run in the coming election as an independent.
“Regrettably, it is unlikely that the harm done by CTV will ever be fully repaired,” Winkler said. “This is why CTV owed such a high duty of responsibility to Mr. Brown and the public before they broadcast and published their stories.”
aartuso@postmedia.com
Patrick Brown files $8M defamation lawsuit against CTV | Toronto Sun
Patrick Brown vying to be chair of Peel Region
Jenny Yuen
More from Jenny Yuen
Published:
July 3, 2018
Updated:
July 3, 2018 2:27 PM EDT
Patrick Brown, second from right, throws his hat in the ring to become chair of Peel Region. Submitted photo
TORONTO — Patrick Brown is ready to win over Peel Region.
Patrick Brown has officially thrown his hat in the ring to become chair of Peel Region, a position that was previously appointed but will now be elected for the first time in 44 years.
The embattled former leader of Ontario’s Progressive Conservative party is attempting a political comeback in the fall municipal election.
“This is the first time it’s an elected position and after everything that happened to me, I went to visit Bill Davis, former premier,” said Brown. “He was such an inspiration when it came to pragmatism and working with others, that I think this a real opportunity to follow that lead.”
The regional chair is the chief executive officer of the municipal corporation and the leader of the regional council. The next municipal election will be held Oct. 22.
Brown, who lives in the Lorne Park neighbourhood of Mississauga — one of three Peel municipalities — with his fiancée Genevieve Gualtieri, said if elected, he wants to dive into increasing well-paying employment.
“Too many people have to drive out of Peel Region and work,” he said. “Obviously, we’ve had concerns of public safety with a rise in crime in Peel. I want to work with my friends at Peel (Regional) Police to address. We also have suffocating gridlock in Peel, which we have to hit head-on.”
Brown said he practised law in Brampton before becoming a federal MP in 2006. His father works as a criminal defence lawyer in Mississauga.
“Peel’s had spectacular population growth, but I’m a big believer that population growth has to be congruent with services,” Brown added. “You have this massive population growth, but then you have gridlock, which diminishes the quality of life, here. The time for affordable housing in Peel is six-to-eight years. That’s unconscionable.”
Brown stepped down as Tory leader in January after two women came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against him, which he has consistently denied.
His resignation months before a provincial election triggered a hastily organized leadership convention that saw Doug Ford take the reins of the party.
Ford blamed Brown for a number of issues that emerged during the spring election campaign that culminated with the Tories’ majority win.
Brown has filed a defamation lawsuit against CTV News, which first reported the sexual misconduct allegations.
He has also announced that he is writing a tell-all book detailing what he describes as his “political assassination.”
Former Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown leaves Queen’s Park after a Jan. 24 press conference in which he initially refuted allegations of sexual misconduct. (THE CANADIAN PRESS)
He doesn’t believe the controversy will deter from his campaign in Peel.
“I sense when I’m out there at events, that people have just been so kind,” he said. “They recognize that it was a hatchet job. The encouragement I’ve been getting at community events has been the reason that I’m doing this.”
In March, outgoing Peel regional chair Frank Dale announced he was retiring after 30 years in office once his term ends.
“We’ve certainly had some legends in Peel Region, that honouring their legacy is important,” Brown said. “I would look at Hazel McCallion and her legacy in Mississauga in one that’s inspiration. ‘Brampton Bill’ Davis — I would certainly honour.”
Brown is not the only former provincial legislator running for a regional position — former Liberal cabinet minister Steven Del Duca is competing to become chair of York Region, another position that will be elected for the first time.
–With files by Canadian Press
Patrick Brown vying to be chair of Peel Region | Toronto Sun
Jenny Yuen
More from Jenny Yuen
Published:
July 3, 2018
Updated:
July 3, 2018 2:27 PM EDT
Patrick Brown, second from right, throws his hat in the ring to become chair of Peel Region. Submitted photo
TORONTO — Patrick Brown is ready to win over Peel Region.
Patrick Brown has officially thrown his hat in the ring to become chair of Peel Region, a position that was previously appointed but will now be elected for the first time in 44 years.
The embattled former leader of Ontario’s Progressive Conservative party is attempting a political comeback in the fall municipal election.
“This is the first time it’s an elected position and after everything that happened to me, I went to visit Bill Davis, former premier,” said Brown. “He was such an inspiration when it came to pragmatism and working with others, that I think this a real opportunity to follow that lead.”
The regional chair is the chief executive officer of the municipal corporation and the leader of the regional council. The next municipal election will be held Oct. 22.
Brown, who lives in the Lorne Park neighbourhood of Mississauga — one of three Peel municipalities — with his fiancée Genevieve Gualtieri, said if elected, he wants to dive into increasing well-paying employment.
“Too many people have to drive out of Peel Region and work,” he said. “Obviously, we’ve had concerns of public safety with a rise in crime in Peel. I want to work with my friends at Peel (Regional) Police to address. We also have suffocating gridlock in Peel, which we have to hit head-on.”
Brown said he practised law in Brampton before becoming a federal MP in 2006. His father works as a criminal defence lawyer in Mississauga.
“Peel’s had spectacular population growth, but I’m a big believer that population growth has to be congruent with services,” Brown added. “You have this massive population growth, but then you have gridlock, which diminishes the quality of life, here. The time for affordable housing in Peel is six-to-eight years. That’s unconscionable.”
Brown stepped down as Tory leader in January after two women came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against him, which he has consistently denied.
His resignation months before a provincial election triggered a hastily organized leadership convention that saw Doug Ford take the reins of the party.
Ford blamed Brown for a number of issues that emerged during the spring election campaign that culminated with the Tories’ majority win.
Brown has filed a defamation lawsuit against CTV News, which first reported the sexual misconduct allegations.
He has also announced that he is writing a tell-all book detailing what he describes as his “political assassination.”
Former Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown leaves Queen’s Park after a Jan. 24 press conference in which he initially refuted allegations of sexual misconduct. (THE CANADIAN PRESS)
He doesn’t believe the controversy will deter from his campaign in Peel.
“I sense when I’m out there at events, that people have just been so kind,” he said. “They recognize that it was a hatchet job. The encouragement I’ve been getting at community events has been the reason that I’m doing this.”
In March, outgoing Peel regional chair Frank Dale announced he was retiring after 30 years in office once his term ends.
“We’ve certainly had some legends in Peel Region, that honouring their legacy is important,” Brown said. “I would look at Hazel McCallion and her legacy in Mississauga in one that’s inspiration. ‘Brampton Bill’ Davis — I would certainly honour.”
Brown is not the only former provincial legislator running for a regional position — former Liberal cabinet minister Steven Del Duca is competing to become chair of York Region, another position that will be elected for the first time.
–With files by Canadian Press
Patrick Brown vying to be chair of Peel Region | Toronto Sun
How's it going now, eh?
BTW, funny how Brown got so screwed over these allegations, how the media treated it all..........and how Mr. Trudeau is being treated, isn't it?
2019 can't come quickly enough.
CTV serves statement of defence to Patrick Brown in defamation suit
Canadian Press
More from Canadian Press
Published:
July 7, 2018
Updated:
July 7, 2018 11:59 PM EDT
Patrick Brown.CRIAG ROBERTSON / Postmedia Network
TORONTO — Lawyers for CTV News say the network did nothing wrong in reporting allegations of sexual misconduct against the former leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party.
In a statement of defence served to Patrick Brown, CTV denies allegations laid out in a defamation lawsuit the former Tory leader launched in April. The statement was first published Saturday by the website Canadaland.
In his statement of claim, Brown alleged the network and several journalists involved in the story acted maliciously and irresponsibly in publishing what he characterizes as false accusations brought forward by two women.
Lawyers for CTV deny those allegations and say Brown is not entitled to the $8 million in damages he is seeking.
“The Named Defendants explicitly deny that the words complained of were falsely and maliciously broadcast or published,” the statement of defence says.
The legal battle comes months after CTV News aired its initial report about the alleged misconduct, which prompted Brown to step down from his post as head of the provincial Tories.
A lawyer for Brown said Saturday he looks forward to “pursuing this litigation on behalf of Mr. Brown and to further his efforts to vindicate his reputation and seek appropriate compensation for the harm done to him.”
A spokesman for CTV said the statement of defence will be filed Monday, and that the network had no further comment.
The statement of defence provides a window into CTV’s investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations, as well as more insight into the network’s process of trying to verify the two women’s accounts.
According to the document, allegations were brought forward to former CP24 reporter Travis Dhanraj in July 2017 and November 2017.
The first tip that Dhanraj received alleged that Brown had “engaged in some sort of sexual misconduct/harassment” against a female staffer on Parliament Hill while he was serving as an MP.
Ultimately, Dhanraj passed the investigation to CTV’s Ottawa Bureau, which the network’s statement said “had more appropriate resources to pursue the story.” The statement also says the Ottawa bureau “had been made aware of other, similar allegations about Brown,” and was conducting its own investigation.
The statement of defence says CTV’s story was in the public interest as Brown is a politician who was, at the time, seeking to become the premier of Ontario. It also says the network gave Brown a fair amount of time to respond to a request for comment.
Brown announced in May that he would be writing a tell-all book about what he describes as his “political assassination.”
Since the story broke in January, Brown has vehemently denied the allegations, which have not been independently verified by The Canadian Press, saying there are discrepancies in the women’s stories.
Currently, Brown is attempting a political comeback. He’s announced he’s running to become chair of Peel Region.
http://torontosun.com/news/national...f-defence-to-patrick-brown-in-defamation-suit
Canadian Press
More from Canadian Press
Published:
July 7, 2018
Updated:
July 7, 2018 11:59 PM EDT
Patrick Brown.CRIAG ROBERTSON / Postmedia Network
TORONTO — Lawyers for CTV News say the network did nothing wrong in reporting allegations of sexual misconduct against the former leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party.
In a statement of defence served to Patrick Brown, CTV denies allegations laid out in a defamation lawsuit the former Tory leader launched in April. The statement was first published Saturday by the website Canadaland.
In his statement of claim, Brown alleged the network and several journalists involved in the story acted maliciously and irresponsibly in publishing what he characterizes as false accusations brought forward by two women.
Lawyers for CTV deny those allegations and say Brown is not entitled to the $8 million in damages he is seeking.
“The Named Defendants explicitly deny that the words complained of were falsely and maliciously broadcast or published,” the statement of defence says.
The legal battle comes months after CTV News aired its initial report about the alleged misconduct, which prompted Brown to step down from his post as head of the provincial Tories.
A lawyer for Brown said Saturday he looks forward to “pursuing this litigation on behalf of Mr. Brown and to further his efforts to vindicate his reputation and seek appropriate compensation for the harm done to him.”
A spokesman for CTV said the statement of defence will be filed Monday, and that the network had no further comment.
The statement of defence provides a window into CTV’s investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations, as well as more insight into the network’s process of trying to verify the two women’s accounts.
According to the document, allegations were brought forward to former CP24 reporter Travis Dhanraj in July 2017 and November 2017.
The first tip that Dhanraj received alleged that Brown had “engaged in some sort of sexual misconduct/harassment” against a female staffer on Parliament Hill while he was serving as an MP.
Ultimately, Dhanraj passed the investigation to CTV’s Ottawa Bureau, which the network’s statement said “had more appropriate resources to pursue the story.” The statement also says the Ottawa bureau “had been made aware of other, similar allegations about Brown,” and was conducting its own investigation.
The statement of defence says CTV’s story was in the public interest as Brown is a politician who was, at the time, seeking to become the premier of Ontario. It also says the network gave Brown a fair amount of time to respond to a request for comment.
Brown announced in May that he would be writing a tell-all book about what he describes as his “political assassination.”
Since the story broke in January, Brown has vehemently denied the allegations, which have not been independently verified by The Canadian Press, saying there are discrepancies in the women’s stories.
Currently, Brown is attempting a political comeback. He’s announced he’s running to become chair of Peel Region.
http://torontosun.com/news/national...f-defence-to-patrick-brown-in-defamation-suit
Only a fool with tourettes or some other syndrome will repeat a line this many time..
He can't be too bight.....
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Reminds me of another fool Cannuck with a similar "stutter"
As bad as Can't hold his beer with his LIEbarrels