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Podcast: North Star with Ellin Bessner
Episode: Canadian designer Shai DeLuca hopes his legal win over antisemitic defamation by Foodbenders’ owner sets an example
Description: Nearly three-and-a-half years after a Toronto-based interior designer, Shai DeLuca, felt he had been defamed by the owner of a now-closed Foodbenders restaurant–who suggested on social media that DeLuca was a “racist” Israeli “terrorist” who had killed Palestinian babies–an Ontario court has found in his favour.
The Ontario Court of Justice judgement, which was released on Dec. 22, said DeLuca was entitled to $85,000 in damages because he was defamed by Kimberly Hawkins back in the summer of 2020. The judge found Hawkins acted with malice, was irresponsible, and had tried to not only ruin DeLuca’s public reputation but his profession...