Montreal, Canada – A defamation lawsuit filed by Chassidic community heads against a non-Jewish blogger was dismissed by the Quebec Superior Court.
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As reported by The Canadian Jewish News (http://bit.ly/18zjRs3) Judge Claude Dallaire handed down the ruling December 4.
Dallaire rejected the request for $375,000 to be paid by Pierre Lacerte to Michael Rosenberg, president of Rosdev Construction, his son Martin Rosenberg and Alex Werzberger, head of the Coalition of Chassidic Organizations of Outremont.
Dallaire ruled that the blog’s content does not meet the claims of defamation or harassment. She found no evidence of racially motivated discrimination.
The lawsuit citing harassment and breach of privacy brought the decade-long feud between Michael Rosenberg and Lacerte, a former journalist who lives across the street from the synagogue, to a head. Lacerte has managed the website Accommodements Outremont since 2007, through which he chronicles alleged civic infractions by members of the Chassidic communities.
Michael Rosenberg stated that Lacerte is anti-Semitic, a charge that Lacerte denies. Lacerte says the bylaws should be applied equally to everyone, and that he is exercising his freedom of speech.
The Rosenberg’s biggest complaint had to do with Lacerte’s photographing the actions at the synagogue to support his claim that the Chassidic community was violating parking, building, noise and other regulations. The requested the removal of 95 of the 314 blogs.
Werzberger stated on Dec. 9 that they had not yet decided whether to appeal.
Lets pray for Pierre Lacerte’s demise, even better than $375,000!
Friendly reminder to all Jews: Follow the Torah and the law of the land – at least to the minimum of the law (preferably lifnim mishuras hadin if on show to local grouch).
The best thing is that Lacerte lost to Mindy Pollak.
Instead of always pointing fingers and calling everybody racist, people should remember that we are still in galus. I have been to Outremont and must say that the community there thinks that they own the place! It’s a bad thing and does cause a lot of Chilul Hashem! I, speaking french,even went to a shop to buy something and the women on the other side of the check-out had a shock when I asked a question in french and said thank you. She said to me:”This is the first time an orthodox Jewish man actually talks to me and on top of it even in french!” How sad is this, I though!I am a chasidic yid, but we have to be behaving properly, especially when coming across goyim. Derech Eretz doesn’t only apply toward fellow Jews, but anybody we come in contact with. Having read this mans blog and looked on a number of their cases from both sides,I must admit that the I am not surprised why this goy is as ticked off against the frumm kehilla as he is. We have to remember that we are in golus and only guests in this and other countries, until Moshiach comes.So,instead of always calling people anti-semits (the people have heard it so much, that it soon won’t mean anything anymore), communicate!!!