Judson Howie marks 5th court victory against "groomer" libels

Media Release

For immediate release: August 19, 2025

This week Judson Howie LLP marked its fifth consecutive court victory since December 2023 against individuals who have published defamatory and hateful slurs falsely alleging members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community are pedophiles or are engaged in sexual "grooming" of children.

A total of over $2.3 million in damages and costs, plus interest, has been awarded over the 5 matters:

• In CATIE et al v. Blackwell, 2025 ONSC 4678, Justice McVey granted default judgment to 8 plaintiffs — an HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention non-profit and several of its staff and volunteer directors — after they were repeatedly and relentlessly smeared on a hate website and related social media by Peter Scott Blackwell. Her Honour awarded a total of $1,750,000 in general and aggravated damages and $23,000 in costs. Justice McVey also granted a permanent injunction preventing the defendant from publishing any further defamatory material about the plaintiffs and requiring the removal of dozens of existing publications. (See our summary here.)

• In Crichton et al v. Webster, 2025 ONSC 1161, Justice Pierce granted summary judgment to four plaintiffs in two companion libel actions. The plaintiffs — drag performers and a small-town Pride organization — were smeared as "groomers" by Brian Webster on a popular Facebook page. Justice Pierce awarded $300,000 in general damages, $80,000 in aggravated damages, and $68,000 in costs. (See our summaries here and here.)

• In Borderland Pride et al v. Cawston (unreported, SC-24-04), the Ontario Small Claims Court awarded the plaintiffs $35,000 in damages (the jurisdictional limit of the court) and $3,587.25 in costs after the defendant libelled them as pedophiles on social media in relation to a local drag event planned in conjunction with a junior hockey franchise. (See our summary here.)

• In Judson v. Ducharme (unreported, SC-24-27), the Ontario Small Claims Court awarded the plaintiff $30,000 in damages and $2,198.50 in costs after the defendant, Greg Ducharme, falsely stated on social media that the plaintiff (a named partner of this firm) was promoting sexual activity with children.

• In Rainbow Alliance Dryden et al v. Webster, 2023 ONSC 7050, Justice Nieckarz found that "groomer" rhetoric targeting members of the drag community or persons who organize drag story-time events was not public interest expression protected by Ontario's anti-SLAPP laws. $10,000 in costs was ordered payable to the plaintiffs. (See our summary here.)

In recent years, 'groomer' slurs have re-emerged in hate rhetoric to target 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and in particular drag performers, those who support vulnerable groups within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and gender diverse individuals. These slurs are deployed to advance the false and harmful narrative that merely introducing young people to 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, supports, and inclusive literature or ideas about sexual orientation or gender identity is an effort to sexually abuse, lure, or 'recruit' them.

"These lies are part of an ongoing, baseless attack from the political right. They undermine community safety and have a profound and damaging impact on 2SLGBTQIA+ people, exposing them to unwarranted reputational harm, harassment, and even physical violence. As a queer-owned law firm, we are proud to use our advocacy to protect vulnerable minorities and to hold those accountable that engage in these vile and disgusting smears," said Douglas Judson. "We are equally proud that Ontario's courts have consistently condemned these libels. The message is this: speech is free, but hate you have to pay for."

Judson Howie LLP thanks Egale Canada, represented by Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, for its participation as an intervenor in the Crichton and Rainbow Alliance matters, and McCarthy Tétrault LLP, co-counsel to our clients in the Rainbow Alliance anti-SLAPP motion.

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Contact:

Douglas W. Judson

Email: doug@judsonhowie.ca