[7seven]

So Aquilini is threatening to sue the media now? hahaha

The Aquilinis have sent legal letters to two local media members, requesting a retraction and apology for suggesting ownership had a significant role in hiring John Tortorella. (for disclosure sake, I’m not one of them)

A libel notice must be sent within six weeks of an alleged libellous statement, and is the first step if you want to sue a publisher for libel.

In writing, you need to let the author know you believe you have been libelled.

In this particular case, the Aquilinis claim the reports, one of which says Tortorella was hired by consensus, were erroneous and Tortorella was their general manager’s choice, and one which they backed.

They also claim that by writing they had a prominent role in the hiring it was designed to “incite ridicule for making bad or embarrassing judgments.”

Neither writer or publication, as of this date, are planning a retraction or apology and both stand by their stories.

I would think this would be an extremely difficult case for the Canucks’ owners to win because, well, they are the owners and they write Tortorella’s cheques, so at some point, legally they hired the coach.

Reports the Aquilinis were “heavily involved” in the hiring process date back to before Tortorella got the job in late June. Those who wrote about the Aquilinis involvement did not start hearing from the owners until the season spun out into a disaster.

It’s been widely acknowledged that the Aquilinis were even present during the actual interviews between management and Tortorella, and that’s something the coach recently discussed.

The undercurrent of the Aquilinis argument strikes me as amazing.

The idea being whomever hired Tortorella is open to ridicule for making bad or embarrassing judgments is quite the claim by the organization.

What does that say about the coach?

I would love to see this one go to court.

The Van Provies: Will fans chanting ?Fire Gillis? get their wish? Also, Aquilinis now taking the fight to the media | The Province