Case Overview
City of Canning Mayor Patrick Hall has won a $250,000 defamation lawsuit against constituent Richard Aldridge. The case, heard in late 2024, concluded with Supreme Court Justice Marcus Solomon handing down a decision this week.
Allegations and Ruling
Mayor Hall initiated the action in 2022 over 10 social media posts made by Mr. Aldridge. These posts suggested Mayor Hall was misusing his position to endorse specific candidates for the Canning Council. Justice Solomon determined that seven of these posts were defamatory and lacked a valid defense.
Judicial Findings
Justice Solomon noted that Mayor Hall, as a public official, considered his public reputation particularly important, and assertions of unlawful or improper use of his office were significantly distressing. The judge found