A North Vancouver man is suing his ex-wife in B.C. Supreme Court for defamation because she placed a "wanted" poster of him, with his photos and personal details, on a "Deadbeat" Web site's "Hall of Shame". The man alleges that the West Vancouver woman falsely claimed on www.wantedposters.com/ that he owes $25,609 in child-support payments. He also alleges that the poster was meant to show he lacked integrity, honesty, financial stability, or solvency, and that she employed "unlawful means" to harm his credit and reputation.

As of April 10 the man's poster was still on the site, but as of April 12 it was off. His lawyer, Tom Woods, refused to discuss the case. The man seeks unspecified damages under the B.C. Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act.

The suit does not name the Web site, which lists 125 Canadian "Deadbeat Moms and Dads". It promises: "Coming Soon-WantedPosters Weekly Television Reality T.V. We are looking for 10 cases to feature in our first segment to be aired coast to coast."

Vancouver lawyer Roger McConchie, a specialist in libel, told the Straight that anyone along the whole chain of Internet publishing-a Web site's registered owner, the Internet server, and others-may be sued for defamation.