LILLEY: Patrick Brown’s lawsuit played role in LaFlamme’s CTV exit

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Bell’s official line on the firing of Lisa LaFlamme is that it was carried out for “holistic” causes.

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The corporate needed a change in path that LaFlamme didn’t agree with. There have been additionally claims of a poisonous office (which some colleagues denied) that will now be a part of a 3rd celebration investigation introduced by Bell to evaluate the circumstances of LaFlamme’s firing.

And, after all, there are the claims from LaFlamme’s supporters who say that is all about ageism and sexism.

For my part, this occurred for quite a lot of causes, none of them reduce and dry with a straightforward narrative, however there’s one angle most are overlooking – Patrick Brown.

The impression of Brown’s lawsuit in opposition to CTV probably shouldn’t be neglected when piecing the puzzle collectively. The case was settled virtually 4 years after the entire affair began and whereas CTV stated no cash exchanged arms, they needed to admit to an embarrassing set of details.

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“Key particulars supplied to CTV for the story had been factually incorrect and required correction,” the assertion launched final March learn.

“CTV Nationwide Information regrets together with these particulars within the story and any hurt this will have brought about to Mr. Brown.”

The hurt it brought about to Brown was actual and rapid.

Going through allegations of sexual misconduct involving an underage lady, an allegation he denied, Brown was compelled out as chief of Ontario’s Progressive Conservative Occasion. On the time this occurred, Brown was on track to grow to be Ontario’s subsequent premier.

Whereas Brown continues to disclaim something ever occurred with the lady, the unique CTV story claiming she was underage was later up to date to point that she was in her 20s on the time of the alleged incident. It was a vastly damaging declare to make in opposition to Brown but in addition one which broken CTV’s status.

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“They had been giddy,” stated one former colleague of LaFlamme and her govt producer Rosa Hwang as they had been engaged on the story.

“They needed their very own ‘Me Too’ story and had been decided to get it,” stated one other co-worker of the pair.

Whereas they bought the story, the end result wasn’t all the things they’d hoped for. Brown sued CTV for $8 million in a lawsuit that stretched on for years.

Whereas CTV acknowledged when the settlement was introduced that no cash modified arms, it actually value them lots for their very own legal professionals. There may be additionally widespread hypothesis that whereas Brown didn’t get an enormous payday in court docket, he additionally didn’t must pay his personal lawyer as a result of, in keeping with some sources, CTV agreed to pay that tab as a part of the settlement.

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Neither facet will talk about the difficulty.

In keeping with sources, earlier this yr, Bell introduced in outdoors counsel to evaluate the depositions of LaFlamme and others from the newsroom who had labored on the case. The advice was to settle the declare, that the depositions had been so damaging to the corporate they need to not proceed.

Fortunately for Bell, Brown was entertaining a bid for the Conservative management race on the time and wanted this problem cleared away. He was able to just accept lower than he might need in any other case.

The settlement was introduced in early March however in keeping with individuals aware of the case, Bell had already decided on LaFlamme in mid-February after the evaluate by outdoors counsel. The corporate merely needed far between the settlement and the parting of how.

The Brown case wasn’t the one think about LaFlamme’s dismissal, but it surely was an element alongside a number of others.

It’s a fancy story, with advanced solutions, and no simple villains or heroes.

Bell, LaFlamme and Hwang had been all contacted for touch upon this story however didn’t reply.

blilley@postmedia.com