MHI FRONT RUNNERS IN DEFAMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Compiled by Denver Titus 

MHI INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMON LAW OF DEFAMATION INVOLVING PUBLICATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA 

On 21 November 2016 Judge Dennis Davis handed down judgement in the Western Cape High Court in the matter between WALDIS AND ANOTHER v VON ULMENSTEIN 2017 (4) SA 503 (WCC).

In this case an urgent application was instituted by Le Chocolatier, a producer of premium chocolate products, and its founder, Daniel Waldis (“the Applicants”), against Christiane Von Ulmenstein, represented at the hearing thereof by MHI Attorneys and Advocate Adam Brink. Von Ulmenstein is a blog writer and restaurant reviewer who writes generally about tourism, restaurants and wine, focusing on Cape Town and the winelands area. The relief the Applicants sought was an order to interdict her to remove the allegedly defamatory post made on her blog as it then was: www.whalecottage.com [now www.chrisvonulmenstein.com].

Extensive case law exists for instances of defamation published in traditional forms of publication such as newspapers and magazines. However, case law in respect of modern forms of publication such as Facebook, Twitter, and in the present case, blogs, is scant. These modern forms of publication represent a novelty in our law, which is largely undeveloped in terms of these forms of publication. Accordingly, MHI Attorneys is proud to have been part of the development of this novel area of South African law, which will be of use to future litigants.

Facts:

Von Ulmenstein’s blog post dated 23 July 2015 followed on an independent article published in July 2015 in Noseweek, a national magazine, which focused on allegations regarding the mislabelling by Le Chocolatier of its chocolates as ‘sugar-free’ which allegedly was not the case. Von Ulmenstein’s article focused on the same subject matter and highlighted how such practices may be life-threatening to diabetics. The article further challenged the labelling of said chocolates as organic – contending it was a fraudulent claim by Le Chocolatier. Von Ulmenstein further challenged whether Le Chocolatier’s chocolates were handmade. Von Ulmenstein wrote that these chocolate slabs were imported as chocolate bars from abroad and remade into slabs prior to being sold by Le Chocolatier. Her blog post lastly contained paragraphs of alleged financial difficulty Le Chocolatier faced at the time and described its founder as a fraud looking for business opportunities even at the expense of the health of its consumers.

The Applicants argued that the blog post was defamatory as it attempted to portray them as dishonest and fraudulent, because Von Ulmenstein had not properly verified the facts contained therein as accurate. The Applicants further argued that the blog post infringed their right to privacy and Le Chocolatier’s right to take part in day-to-day commercial activity without the fear of being unfairly defamed. Von Ulmenstein’s defence was that her blog post constitutes fair comment. Furthermore, the post is truthful and made in the public interest as it relates to public health.

The Applicants countered that von Ulmenstein cannot plead truth and public interest as a defence, because the information was already in the public domain due to publication by Noseweek, as aforementioned. The Applicants further contended that her post was untruthful and made solely with the intention to defame the Applicants.

Ruling:

Judge Davis held that the issue of whether a product is indeed sugar-free and diabetically friendly is a matter of public interest. The fact that the sugar content of Le Chocolatier’s chocolates had been published in Noseweek prior to Von Ulmenstein’s blog post, does not mean that Von Ulmenstein’s post was no longer in the public interest. Judge Davis further held, where there are persistent allegations that a product is not what it claims to be, it continues to be a matter of public interest.

In respect of a report submitted and relied upon by the Applicants regarding the sugar content of its chocolates, Judge Davis found the report to be ‘extremely vague’. A further report submitted and relied upon by the Applicants, compiled by the Cape Winelands District Municipality following an inspection of Le Chocolatier’s products, conducted in terms of s 82 of the National Health Act 61 of 2003, was held to show that there was some form of mislabelling of the Applicants’ products at some point in time, which necessitated relabelling. Accordingly, Judge Davis held that the defences of truth and public interest, as well as fair comment, could be relied upon by Von Ulmenstein in the circumstances.

However, Judge Davis found that parts of the blog post were beyond justifiable under the abovementioned defences and that these parts were accordingly defamatory. To this extent Judge Davis ordered that Von Ulmenstein delete the parts of the blog post relating to the chocolates being life-threatening to diabetics and relating to Le Chocolatier’s founder being a fraud who looks for business opportunities even at the expense of the health of his customers.

Von Ulmenstein was awarded costs in respect of a wasted hearing on 12 May 2016. However, no other award in respect of costs was made.

Conclusion:

The judgement represents an innovation in respect of the relief granted. Judge Davis opted to allow the entire post to remain published save for the above two offending sentences. Accordingly, Judge Davis did not consider the defamatory parts as having tainted the entirety of the blog post, and the publication of the remainder of the post was justifiable. Such an order is only possible with modern forms of publication which allow for subsequent editing thereof, as opposed to traditional forms of publication such as newspapers and magazines which require the entire article to be retracted.

In cases of defamation, the constitutional right to privacy and, where a juristic person, the right to take part in day-to-day commercial activity without the fear of being unfairly defamed, are at odds with the constitutional right to freedom of expression. This judgement favours freedom of expression, as it does not unduly censor the entire post. Instead, the judgement serves to indicate that there are limits to one’s right to freedom of expression and where these limits are crossed, the right to freedom of expression has been exercised unjustifiably and infringed the rights of another. To this extent, the courts will intervene.

This article is a general information sheet and should not be used or relied on as legal or other professional advice. No liability can be accepted for any errors or omissions nor for any loss or damage arising from reliance upon any information herein. Always contact your legal adviser for specific and detailed advice. Errors and omissions excepted (E&OE)