The Supreme Court of Canada will hear an appeal by ex-business associates of Conrad Black who argue Canadian courts are not the proper forum for the former media mogul to pursue libel suits against them.

Black sued committee members of media company Hollinger International, where he was once the chairman and CEO, over statements regarding his use of shareholder money.

The defendants claim Ontario is not the proper venue since Black is no longer Canadian and the defendants are mainly Americans. Hollinger is based in New York, and Black renounced his Canadian citizenship in 2001.

Canada’s highest court on Thursday granted the appeal of an Ontario Court ruling that allowed Black’s case against them to proceed in the province.