A civil lawsuit came to an abrupt halt on Friday after a lawyer sent a letter to Dennis threatening to sue the plaintiff for defamation. On Monday, the judge described the letter’s timeline as “catastrophic” because Dr Anny Sauvageau was still testifying in the illegal dismissal case. Sauvageau was the province’s top medical examiner from mid-2011 to 2014, when she learned her contract would not be renewed next year. He sued the province for $ 7.6 million in damages for lost income and benefits. At the Court of Queen’s Bench on Monday afternoon, Sauvageau’s lawyer described Denis’ letter as “threatening” and “intimidating.” “The plaintiff is a person… who already feels vulnerable,” Alan Garber told the court. “How do you put the toothpaste back in the tube?” In an affidavit, Sauvageau said she has renewed a prescription for anti-anxiety medication and is seeking counseling. “The false accusations and threats made by Jonathan Denis QC against me made me feel intimidated and intimidated once again and reactivated my symptoms,” he wrote. “I now feel fear, anxiety and worry … and I have flashbacks to events that have happened in the past that led to this trial.”

‘A misunderstanding’

The lawyer representing Dennis apologized for what he called a “misunderstanding” of the letter sent last week. “Mr. Dennis wants to apologize in court,” said Brendan Miller. “He assumes full responsibility for the misunderstanding arising from the letter.” Miller told the judge the letter was sent last week because Dennis believed Sovatzo was speaking to members of the media outside the court. The letter referred to an article in the Edmonton Journal narrating the testimony of Denis given by Sauvageau last week during her affidavit. In her affidavit, Sauvageau said she has not spoken to the media since late 2014, when her contract as the province’s top medical examiner was not renewed. Miller acknowledged that Sauvageau could not and would not be sued for defamation for her testimony because she was protected by absolute privilege. “There is no way she can be sued for what she says at the kiosk,” Miller said. “But that’s what the letter says,” Judge Doreen Sulyma replied immediately. “The letter has no chance of intimidating a witness,” Miller said. “Even if it was a threat to the testimony, it is a threat that equates to nothing.” Miller added that of their own free will, Dennis’s legal team reported the matter to the Alberta Law Firm. Come with me to welcome Alberta’s newest lawyer, Kyle Shewchuk. They called the bar today. pic.twitter.com/M8jfxk3FfW – @ JonathanDenisAB
Last week’s letter was sent by a junior lawyer to Denis’ Calgary’s law firm, who was admitted to the bar just last August. Before the hearing was adjourned on Monday, Kyle Shewchuk asked to go to court to apologize. “It was a learning experience for me as a new bar lawyer,” Shewchuk said. Judge Sulyma called his apology “appropriate” and accepted the apology. Dennis did not go to court. He declined to comment outside the court. Sulima will issue her decision on Wednesday morning before Sovatzo continues to testify.

title: “Judge To Decide If Former Alberta Justice Minister Is In Contempt Of Court " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-17” author: “Sharon Bail”

A civil lawsuit came to an abrupt halt on Friday after a lawyer sent a letter to Dennis threatening to sue the plaintiff for defamation. On Monday, the judge described the letter’s timeline as “catastrophic” because Dr Anny Sauvageau was still testifying in the illegal dismissal case. Sauvageau was the province’s top medical examiner from mid-2011 to 2014, when she learned her contract would not be renewed next year. He sued the province for $ 7.6 million in damages for lost income and benefits. At the Court of Queen’s Bench on Monday afternoon, Sauvageau’s lawyer described Denis’ letter as “threatening” and “intimidating.” “The plaintiff is a person… who already feels vulnerable,” Alan Garber told the court. “How do you put the toothpaste back in the tube?” In an affidavit, Sauvageau said she has renewed a prescription for anti-anxiety medication and is seeking counseling. “The false accusations and threats made by Jonathan Denis QC against me made me feel intimidated and intimidated once again and reactivated my symptoms,” he wrote. “I now feel fear, anxiety and worry … and I have flashbacks to events that have happened in the past that led to this trial.”

‘A misunderstanding’

The lawyer representing Dennis apologized for what he called a “misunderstanding” of the letter sent last week. “Mr. Dennis wants to apologize in court,” said Brendan Miller. “He assumes full responsibility for the misunderstanding arising from the letter.” Miller told the judge the letter was sent last week because Dennis believed Sovatzo was speaking to members of the media outside the court. The letter referred to an article in the Edmonton Journal narrating the testimony of Denis given by Sauvageau last week during her affidavit. In her affidavit, Sauvageau said she has not spoken to the media since late 2014, when her contract as the province’s top medical examiner was not renewed. Miller acknowledged that Sauvageau could not and would not be sued for defamation for her testimony because she was protected by absolute privilege. “There is no way she can be sued for what she says at the kiosk,” Miller said. “But that’s what the letter says,” Judge Doreen Sulyma replied immediately. “The letter has no chance of intimidating a witness,” Miller said. “Even if it was a threat to the testimony, it is a threat that equates to nothing.” Miller added that of their own free will, Dennis’s legal team reported the matter to the Alberta Law Firm. Come with me to welcome Alberta’s newest lawyer, Kyle Shewchuk. They called the bar today. pic.twitter.com/M8jfxk3FfW – @ JonathanDenisAB
Last week’s letter was sent by a junior lawyer to Denis’ Calgary’s law firm, who was admitted to the bar just last August. Before the hearing was adjourned on Monday, Kyle Shewchuk asked to go to court to apologize. “It was a learning experience for me as a new bar lawyer,” Shewchuk said. Judge Sulyma called his apology “appropriate” and accepted the apology. Dennis did not go to court. He declined to comment outside the court. Sulima will issue her decision on Wednesday morning before Sovatzo continues to testify.