Calling all researchers!

One of the strangest things about Richard Warman’s threatened lawsuit against me is his complaint that I dare to call him litigious and a censor. It’s strange because it’s so obviously a fair comment, based on the facts of his track record. But the really weird part is that he doesn’t see the irony in it. I mean, demanding that I censor my comment that he’s a censor? Or threatening that he’ll sue me because I say he sues a lot? It’s absurd, and I wonder if there’s anyone in his circle of friends who will tap him on the shoulder and tell him that. I doubt it.

A reader of my blog sent me a copy of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association’s 2003 Annual Report, which has a staggering story of, well there’s no other way to say it, Warman’s “censorship” and “litigiousness”.

Scroll down to page 12 for the whole story. Here are some excerpts:

Richard Warman wrote the Kamloops library, which had included [David Icke’s] book in their collection, alleging that the book defamed him. He requested that the library pull the book, threatening to add the library as a defamation defendant if it refused. On the advice of legal counsel, the library removed the book from circulation.

The BCCLA took swift action, contacting Attorney General Geoff Plant and expressing concern about the chilling effect that this type of prior restraint could pose.

:::

Unfortunately, the story gets worse. The BC Library Association ran, essentially, a news story about the Kamloops situation on a portion of its website titled “Censorship in BC.” The Library Association reported on the content of the book and Mr. Warman’s threat of suit. This came to Mr. Warman’s attention and he again threatened to sue.

The Library Association refused to modify its website, rightly in our view, and Warman has now

filed a defamation action against it. The Library Association has retained counsel, pro bono, and

intends to vigorously fight the lawsuit, with the continued support of the BCCLA.

Gentle reader, can you even imagine a scenario that better fits the definition of censorship than that – demanding a library remove a book, and suing the librarians for even talking about it?  And all as “prior restraint” – that is, trying to ban a book before it’s even been assessed as defamatory by a court.

I’m grateful to the reader who sent me that BCCLA report – research tips are always welcome.  So I’ve thought of another research challenge for readers skilled at Google and the Wayback Machine and who have some time to help: Let's document every occasion that Warman has either filed a suit against someone or threatened to do so.

It will be useful to my case, because it will demonstrate just how censorious and litigious Warman really is, and that my comments about him were legally fair. I've got a ton of examples already, but I'm sure there are many more. Send me your research by e-mail, to ezra@ezralevant.com and be sure to include any relevant Internet links, or actual .pdf's or other copies of his threats and suits.

Thanks for your help!