Lame Anonymous DIY 'Libel and Slander' Notice Fails to Intimidate
As noted in our 'Latest News' section, dated December 28, 2023, the day prior our producer received via email a PDF file entitled "Libel and Slander Notice Ironside". The document was written by somebody with little if any knowledge of the law, it was not signed, there was no name associated with the authorship, and the email address was generic.
The question we have to ask is who exactly is this 'brave' and 'bold' issuer of ridiculous rants who hides in the shadows and is too scared to affix their name to their own threats?
Our producer responded, essentially ripping to shreds all the anonymous allegations, and he very much included his name, and his signature, and the email was sent from his very public email address. He could have ignored it and claimed it went into the junk mail, but instead he went out of his way not only to reply to the cowardly correspondence, he also emailed his reply to each of the involved brokers at Verico the Mortgage Station, and to all those involved at Verico Financial Group Inc. and HomeEquity Bank. He also included the contacts we have at all of the banks and lenders who finance the mortgages arranged at Verico the Mortgage Station.
Those who hide as a defence rely on plausible deniability, while we proudly present the facts and evidence of this story by taking the bull by the horns.
We have included here for all to see the full PDF "Libel and Slander Notice Ironside"file and the cover page, and also our producer's response. Below, are a few allegations made by the mystery moaner and our response using evidence and established facts.
Allegation
"We had hoped that you would have conducted yourself as a professional journalist but as the past year has shown this simply isn't the case. Instead of reporting facts you have created a campaign that appears to be more of a business plan to appear like a victim in order to further your career with little regard to the truth."
Reality
Eighteen months ago, the brokers at Verico the Mortgage Station defrauded our producer via usury. This has been confirmed via an emails from both Renee Dadswell and David Flude and by statements made in this "Libel and Slander Notice Ironside". David Flude was obligated by a "regulatory requirement"to meet and discuss the crime, for the purpose of forwarding a report to the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA). David Flude simply refused to schedule that meeting, apparently with the intent being to whitewash the criminal activity to avoid prosecution. Our producer waited a full year for that meeting to be scheduled. Six months or so ago, we started warning the public about how the brokers at Verico the Mortgage Station defrauded a client via usury, also known as loan sharking. Quickly, we started to receive messages from others who had experienced less than stellar treatment by the brokers at Verico the Mortgage Station. In an attempt to remain objective, we offered David Flude, Lisa Purchase, and Renee Dadswell the opportunity to provide their side of the story. Since then, we have not heard a word of reply. When journalists and documentary film producers are ignored by those they are exposing, they have no choice but to solicit assistance from the public. The brokers at Verico the Mortgage Station have been granted multiple opportunities to contest our claims, either on camera or through a without-prejudice meeting, but they have declined both. They have also never written to us with complaints of inaccurate claims.
Allegation
"We have avoided dealing with you as your history has shown that you get into feuding with people and quite frankly, we are not interested. It appears you failed to learn a lesson when, in 2017, the Superior Court noted your behaviour in the ruling of Ironside v. Roskam, 2017 ONSC 7416. While you did win the application the court stated the following:"
". . . The problem is that the Applicant [John Ironside] himself has been involved in the same type of behaviour against Mr. Roskam. The Applicant has posted videos about Mr. Roskam on his own websites, has followed Mr. Roskam around at events, and has made inappropriate remarks about Mr. Roskam online in a very similar way. While the Applicant characterizes these remarks as "political commentary", I cannot accept that these comments are directed exclusively at furthering political discourse. In my view, they are also very much personal attacks on Mr. Roskam. In short, the Applicant has come to this Court seeking relief with "unclean hands". Accordingly, I am not prepared to grant the relief he seeks."
Reality
Nobody at Verico the Mortgage Station knew anything about our producer's history until we openly published it. The only reason they know about the successful case against a vexatious litigant is that we posted about it and provided the address of a newspaper article. So, the writer's statement is blatantly fictitious and deceptive.
What the article does not discuss is that the Justice in that matter is a well-known hardline Conservative, and our actions against the vexatious litigant were undertaken during a provincial election when, as a supposed Libertarian candidate, he was working as a muckraker for the incumbent Conservative candidate who lost his seat in Queen's Park mostly because of our video. Our producer was hired to work as videographer and photographer for the NDP candidate during the run for provincial office, and the video in question was part of the campaign. The Justice could not ignore the dozens of vexatious civil claims that had been filed by the self-identified 'rider' of Welfare, but he could use his authority to protect the muckraker from paying costs. Our producer's lawyer suggested appealing the one-sided decision, but our producer chose to let it go as the vexatious litigant was never going to pay. The vexatious litigant was banned from ever suing anybody again, which in the past had included dozens of innocent individuals, businesses, and even a charity, and he was later kicked out of the Libertarian Party after they saw our producer's evidence showing how the vexatious litigant was in truth working to help the Conservatives. A couple of years later, he was also removed, based on the evidence, from the 'None of the Above' 'party'. Politically speaking, it is very hard to sink much lower than that. It is also interesting how the anonymous writer appears at times to come to the defense of a two times court labelled libelist and twice judged vexatious litigant.
Apparently, birds of a feather do flock together.
The craven author went on for a bit in this vein, about a page and a half, as evidently, he/she thought they had found some kind of Achilles heel that they could use to scare our producer away from exposing their crimes. Please, do read it all and see for yourself the level of desperation. The reality is that the video caused the Conservative to lose the election and our producer won in court against the vexatious litigant despite obvious political affiliations. Also, information about third party cases is not admissible as evidence, as a witness can only testify to things in which they were an active participant. Everything else is hearsay and speculation, which are not admissible. Our producer can discuss how the Justice expressed inaccurate statements about a political video, but as none of the brokers at Verico the Mortgage Station were at that trial, they would have to issue a summons to the Justice compelling him to testify.
This is the kind of 'we are right no matter what' and 'the rules don't apply to us' mentality of privelege that permeates throughout the document.
Allegation
"The court listed out your own unacceptable behaviour which included making videos, demanding an interview, letters to 3rd party people and the pursuit of an exposing documentary called, "Hypocrisy in Hazzard County"."
Reality
It appears that the worrisome writer does not understand what journalists and documentary producers do, as "making videos, demanding an interview, letters to 3rd party people and the pursuit of an exposing documentary"are all part of the job of running a registered media company or community channel. Nowhere in the job description of a mortgage broker does it say to commit fraud by usury, to refuse to comply with the 'regulatory requirements" of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA), or to try to cover up for the crime after the fact. Also, the vexatious litigant tried to sue our producer over that video but the claim was stayed indefinitely while he was being judged a vexatious litigant after harassing dozens of people through frivolous lawsuits. That is the court's way of saying "You have no case and you are not going to be entertained here." A short time later, the vexatious litigant was forced under a ruling of contempt to never write anything about our producer again, to remove all of his libel from every source on the Internet, to not contact him for any reason, and to pay $5,000.00 in damages. It is interesting how the anonymous writer 'representing' Verico the Mortgage Station chose to overlook that part of the story.
Journalists and documentary producers work leads into evidence that we present in a public forum to support allegations of wrongdoing.
We invite our readers to review the second line of content on our homepage which reads: "We reserve the right to analyze and expose political groups and organizations that promote hatred and racism, as well as anybody who takes action that can hurt others."It is unfortunate that a politically motivated statement by a Justice got the writer so riled up and excited, but as a result of our expose documentaries, we have exposed negligence contributing to death of a disabled man, rental fraud against single mothers, a fake politician working as a muckraker for an incumbent MPP who was then voted out of office, abuse of authority by politicians and the police, and fraud valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars committed against hundreds of employees.
That one Justice might have had an issue with our political leanings, but even he had to admit we get results as was proven by his verdict of vexatious litigation, which any lawyer will tell you is not easy to attain.
Allegation
"The one-sided feud you have created isn't in the interest of the public but your own self-interest of presenting yourself as a victim in order to create career opportunity for yourself.
What the facts are is that you were in a difficult spot whereby you needed $2000 because you didn't have the financial resources to make your next mortgage payment and avoid being in default. Apparently, you didn't have any family, friends or business associate willing to help you so you turned to our company. While we normally do not provide for these types of loans, we did take it upon ourselves to help a fellow human being in need. Without our help you would have been in serious problems. Instead of thanking people who helped you, you wanted to turn the event into something it is not. You suddenly became the victim and used the kindness of our brokers to further your career."
Reality
It is interesting how the Gollum-like author equates everything to personal gain, and cannot even see the darkness of their own actions. The brokers at Verico the Mortgage Station manipulated the timeline of the mortgage to put their client into a position where he had no choice but to accept their terms. They also told him he could not go anywhere else for funding as that would delay the mortgage. We have emails from Lisa Purchase that substantiate this. The simple fact is they defrauded a senior and veteran and then hid from repercussions of their actions. Now, instead of taking responsibility for their reprehensible behaviour, the brokers of Verico the Mortgage Station have the gall to not only disregard their own crimes, but also to actually ask for thanks for their deception and fraud by usury. The writer also goes on about somehow boosting our producer's career, and frankly we have no idea where that is coming from, because of course he does not substantiate anything he says. From these statements, we can only guess that they see all other people as being like themselves, selfish and seemingly narcissistic. That would, after all, explain the pathological level of lying demonstrated so far.
In truth, our producer and our team are an antithesis to this selfish view of social responsibility. Not only has our team donated $700,000.00 worth of services through the donation of more than 350 fundraising and educational videos to greater than 180 charities, not-for-profits, and benevolent community groups, we were also nominated for and voted to the highest levels for an award for altruism that was presented by the City of Barrie and the Greater Barrie Chamber of Commerce. If that is not enough, our producer gets up early three mornings a week to volunteer at a local breakfast program for the homeless community, and he goes out at night three times a week to do street outreach to those in the greatest need. David Flude and his brokers need to get their heads around the fact that we are not all selfish and focused only on ourselves.
It absolutely is in the public interest for potential clients, and especially vulnerable seniors, to know about the fraud by usury and cover-ups that have been committed by the brokers at Verico the Mortgage Station against their senior and veteran clientele.
Allegation
"It is unfortunate there are people who use others. You claim to be overcharged a few hundred dollars - certainly no one here is attempting to get rich from your $200. However, you turned your fake story into some government corruption case involving the police. Apparently, the Chief of the Police and serious investigators are all lining up to get their portion of $200. In your view there is so much money ($200) that several people are quick to commit criminal offenses. In your world all you see is evil - so very sad."
Then later . . .
"In your world, no human can make any errors unless they are engaged in a major conspiracy. It was simply human error on paperwork that has standard fees and interest rates in an unusual situation where the Station uncommonly provided a short term loan.
Your money was refunded immediately when the error was detected, and you are out no money due to the error. However, you cannot accept human error."
Reality
Initially, Renee Dadswell skimmed $499.75 from the mortgage,
. . . which represented a lending rate, including interest and fees, of 198.25 percent
That left just shy of $300.00 still outstanding,
. . . which represents an interest rate of about 119 percent when calculated over 46 days.
These are the easiest claims to disprove as lies, because if the interest charged was a mistake, as the writer claims, and it was not their intent to steal the money, then why have the brokers at Verico the Mortgage Station not returned all of it? Initially, Renee Dadswell skimmed $499.75 from the mortgage, which represented a lending rate, including interest and fees, of 198.25 percent. A month later, under threat of a complaint to police and the likelihood of civil litigation, this 'professional' broker begrudgingly returned $200.00 after admitting the "Administrative Fee"was too high.
Regardless of their feigned innocence, the brokers at Verico the Mortgage Station committed the crime of usury, and they have withheld the proceeds of their crime for the past 18 months until this very day.
That left just shy of $300.00 still outstanding, which represents an interest rate of about 119 percent when calculated over 46 days. According to the law, which applies to all of us, under section 347 of the Criminal Code of Canada, the highest level of interest permitted to be charged is sixty percent. This means that Renee Dadswell is currently, today, committing the crime of usury.
The top legal limit for the loan was $151.23 in fees and interest, so there goes any potential "oops"defence.
The brokers at Verico the Mortgage Station have had 18 months to check their math and to return what they had stolen by usury, but they chose to covet the precious $250.00 they had scammed after being caught, and there is no defence for their actions. This kind of transparent deception is the reason why our "fake story"is being read and shared by more people every day as the truth is exposed and the facts defeat the self-serving fantasies of the brokers at Verico the Mortgage Station.
Indeed some people do "use others"and more and more people are seeing who those people are.
The rest of the PDF file entitled "Libel and Slander Notice Ironside" reads like a grocery list of our legal accomplishments regarding securing justice for others that the writer clearly sees as threatening to their position. We can understand why. We welcome everybody to read it, and our producer's reply. Nobody ever said anything about a conspiracy, just potentially 'motivation' to police to cover up the crimes that are now under investigation by the Office of the Independent Police Review Director that will likely be forwarded to the Ontario Provincial Police Financial Crimes Division. As for politicians, they do what they always do, protect those who support their ability to be a politician.
There is a lot of money to be made in politics, even at the municipal level, and it is not called greasing the palm for nothing.
As for the banks, they profit from providing mortgages through the brokers at Verico the Mortgage Station, and their directors and investors have a right to know the truth. To do their job, they need to be seen as ethical, and being associated with loan sharks is not good for their image. We waited eighteen months before contacting them, which we absolutely had a right to do as the brokers at Verico the Mortgage Station refused to explain their actions, they continued to withhold money that belongs to their victim of usury, and they had motivated the local small police force to omit evidence of their ongoing crimes Those financiers and their investors absolutely have a right to know the truth about those with whom they are doing business . . .
. . . and apparently reaching out to them with the truth and evidence struck a nerve.
It seems likely that our fully justified decision to reach out to those banks and lenders is what inspired the unprofessional "Libel and Slander Notice"that was written very quickly without the guidance of a lawyer, and was served anonymously in a manner that is not conducive with the Rules of Civil Procedure that govern the Superior Court of Justice in Ontario.
It would seem that the writer, who chooses to hide in perpetual anonymity, was suddenly motivated in a rather panicked flurry of activity to take action that he (or she) had refused to take for more than 550 days, and they were so compelled to do so 'immediately' that they could not wait until the end of the holiday period to retain a lawyer to write and serve it properly. This likely means that one of their financiers that does not suffer from obvious moral ambiguity is not impressed with the complete lack of voluntary accountability demonstrated so far by the brokers at Verico the Mortgage Station.
Keep in mind that Verico the Mortgage Station claims to be earn between five and six million dollars a year, but these off-the-hip actions would suggest that they can't afford to hire a lawyer or pay for legal service. Those facts alone indicate that this notice is nothing but another ruse used by the brokers at Verico the Mortgage Station to attempt to escape from their own criminal liability without repercussions.
Finally, we address the final statement of the whine-fest document which reads:
"If you are unwilling to look past your own personal vendetta, then at least consider those who have helped you - do they really need to answer for their actions in court?"
This almost Freudian closing statement would suggest strongly that the brokers at Verico the Mortgage Station are incapable of understanding that in this matter, they are the bad guys. Seriously, who says something like "do they really need to answer for their actions in court?" unless they know they are guilty? Verico the Mortgage Station did not 'help' anybody but themselves, as not only did they commit the crime of usury, up until this very day they have retained a portion of the money they stole, and through their stall and delay tactics, they knowingly caused the closure of a social enterprise community media channel that exists to help charities, not-for-profits, and benevolent community groups. How did they help anybody but themselves?
You do not help somebody by committing a crime that carries with it a punishment of up to five years in prison.
David Flude, Renee Dadswell, and Lisa Purchase had better believe they will be held accountable in the Superior Court of Justice when they are summoned to testify under oath, with the Sword of Damocles in the form of a potential charge of perjury hanging over them if they lie as they have done so many times so far. They better also understand that we have a lot more evidence now than we had eighteen months ago, and we will catch them if they choose to continue their established pattern of deception into the courtroom.
The attitude presented in this statement does not suggest remorse or acceptance of their own wrongdoing. It infers a feeling of superiority or privilege which suggests that the brokers at Verico the Mortgage Station feel they can take what they want from anybody they want, especially potentially vulnerable seniors, and not be held accountable. Sadly for them, this time they chose a victim who can and has hit back against those who defrauded him. That unprofessional and self-serving attitude is why the brokers of Verico the Mortgage Station are now trying, vainly, to scare off our producer with this lame excuse for a legal notice of libel and slander, as the only other option is to admit their mistakes, to confess to our fully supported allegations, and to open the books to let our forensic accountant sift through the records to see who else was cheated so we can ensure they are compensated under the order of a court.
That is why we are eager for this matter to be heard in the Superior Court, while they can only huff, puff, and bluff, and why we are telling this story openly in our own name, while they hide in the shadows and threaten us from behind the mask of anonymity.
