There's been an interesting turn of events in a case before New Brunswick's highest court. Editorial cartoonist Josh Beutel is appealing a 1998 court order to pay Malcolm Ross $7,500 because he portrayed him as an anti-semite. Now Ross wants to appeal the case too.

Ross' lawyer watched Thursday as Beutel's lawyer argued his client shouldn't have been found guilty of defamation. Then lawyer Doug Christie went on the counter-attack. Not only did Christie argue that the original finding of guilt should stand but he says Ross now wants even more money.

Beutel was originally found guilty on one count of defamation and was ordered to pay $7,500 in damages. Christie says Beutel defamed Ross several times in his cartoons and should be ordered to pay between $50,000 and $60,000 in punitive damages.

He pointed to one cartoon where Ross is depicted worshiping before "the Church of paranoid conspiracy." Christie says that by inferring that Ross has a mental illness, his client was defamed.

Ross is a former Moncton school teacher who was removed from the classroom for his writings questioning the Holocaust.

One of the lawyers intervening on Beutel's behalf is Paul Schabas. He represents the Canadian Newspaper Association and the Association of Canadian Editorial Cartoonists.

Schabas says the original trial judge lost sight of the fact that editorial cartoonists express views and opinions, not facts. He says the judgement against Beutel could have a serious effect on free speech and could have a chilling effect on cartoonists across the country.

The appeal is expected to wrap up Friday.