Background:
Corinne Pereira appealed the dismissal of her defamation claim against Margaret Klonarakis under the Protection of Public Participation Act (the "Act"). The original lawsuit was dismissed as a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP), with the judge ruling that the expressions at issue were related to public interest.

Legal Arguments/Issues:

• Appellant's Argument: Corinne Pereira argued that the judge erred in deeming the expressions as matters of public interest. She claimed that the dispute was purely private, unrelated to broader public concerns, and that the Act was inappropriately applied to prevent her from defending her reputation.
• Respondent's Argument: Margaret Klonarakis contended that her expressions were related to public interest, given the public nature of the underlying disputes, which included workplace harassment and public allegations made by Pereira. The defense asserted that the lawsuit was an attempt to intimidate and silence critics.

Court’s Decision:
The Court of Appeal upheld the original dismissal, affirming that the expressions involved matters of public interest, particularly relating to workplace harassment and safety. It found no errors in the original judge's decision, emphasizing that the statements were made within the context of a broader public dispute.

Costs/Awards:
The court dismissed the appeal and did not alter the original costs order, which awarded full indemnity costs to Margaret Klonarakis. The court also denied the request for special costs against Pereira despite her uncivil conduct during the proceedings.