A legal issue that’s dogged Rob Ford since he became mayor will soon be back in court.  Toronto restaurateur George Foulidis is appealing a ruling that found Ford did not defame him during the 2010 municipal election campaign. Foulidis sued Ford and councillor candidate Bruce Baker after comments each made about a deal between the city and the company owned by Foulidis for a sole sourced 20 year contract to lease what was then known as the Boardwalk Cafe in the Beach.  Ford told the Toronto Sun’s editorial board that “the deal stinks to high heaven” and raised concerns about “corruption.”  In 2012, a superior court justice concluded that Ford’s comments were not directed at Foulidis, nor were they defamatory.

Meantime, Rob Ford appears to be making progress while getting treatment for his alcohol addiction.  His brother, Councillor Doug Ford, told CP24, “what I understand speaking to him, he’s the candidate for mayor.  He’s going to move forward and we’re going to run a campaign.  It’s up to him, over the next five or six weeks, how long he’s going to be (in rehab)…but our family’s priority and Rob’s priority is to make sure he’s healthy.  Politics comes second.”

Mayor Ford announced he was taking a leave of absence on April 30th, the same night The Globe and Mail revealed two of its reporters had viewed a new video of Toronto’s mayor allegedly smoking crack cocaine.

Ford was in the Gravenhurst and Bracebridge areas of central Ontario on Friday afternoon where a number of pictures were taken of him with local residents.