B.C. High Court says comic must pay
The lede of the story in Canada’s National Post nutshells it pretty well:
In a ruling that could carry implications for comedy clubs across Canada, the Supreme Court of British Columbia has upheld the right of a bar patron to receive five-figures in damages from a comedian whose performance she alleges gave her post-traumatic stress disorder.
Those “five figures” are a “1,” followed by a “5,” followed by three zeroes. Fifteen large. And the venue was fined $7,000 and the venue’s owner spent $13,000 defending himself. Survey the wreckage, imagine the implications for the future and ask yourself if it’s all for the good.
We first posted on the Guy Earle case back on June 26, 2008. The incident in question took place on May 22, 2007.
Then, we posted this.
And this.
2 Responses
Reply to: B.C. High Court says comic must pay
Well, I guess from now on when you and your lovely wife (and every other comedian alive) work in Canada, you’ll have to watch what you say to any heckling inebriates, lest they suffer psychological damage from your mordant ripostes and sue you. Might be safer to not say anything at all and let them yammer on for however long while you stand silently onstage. Audience probably won’t mind. Show shouldn’t suffer. As long as no feelings are hurt…
Yes. Rather like performing at Casino Niagara, where the policy is: Don’t respond to the hecklers… and when you register your complaint about the heckler afterward, we’ll ban you from the club. Hmmm… perhaps the Casino Niagara policy is a direct response to the Human Rights Commission mischief. That seems to be working out well.