Iqaluit (Nov 22/04) - A Nunavut judge has awarded $35,000 in damages to a manager at the Baffin Correctional Centre because of defamatory comments made in a newsletter.

In late April 2002, the unofficial BCC Gazette newsletter was created by Justin Partridge, and distributed with the help of Crystal Partridge.

According to court documents, both employees later resigned after a sexual assault complaint was made by acting deputy warden Steve Hay.

Hay then discovered the Gazette had also been circulated outside BCC and sued the Partridges for defamation in October 2002 for comments aimed at him.

"The overall impression I have of the newsletter is that it was published to ridicule and embarrass the plaintiff," wrote Justice Earl Johnson in his reasons for judgment.

Johnson's reasons also state Hay and Justin Partridge often argued over implementation of BCC policies. Acting deputy warden when the newsletter was distributed, Hay said the document hurt his chances of promotion within BCC, as well as with potential employers in Yellowknife and British Columbia.

Johnson also awarded Hay costs of $6,500.