A defamation trial involving author and former professor Steven Galloway is set to commence at the B.C. Supreme Court on Monday. Galloway, who previously held a tenured position and led the creative writing program at the University of British Columbia, faced false allegations of sexual assault that circulated online, leading to his termination. Despite never facing criminal charges, a subsequent university report by former judge Mary Ellen Boyd determined the accusations against Galloway lacked substantiation.
The defendants in the defamation lawsuit, including the accuser identified as A.B. and individuals who propagated the claims online, brought the case to the Supreme Court of Canada, contending that their statements constituted protected speech. However, the High Court declined to review the case following a lower court ruling that suggested if the defendants’ arguments were upheld, there would be no legal repercussions for publicly labeling someone as a rapist.
In a recent development, one of the defendants, Chelsea Rooney, extended a comprehensive apology to Galloway, expressing genuine remorse for her role in causing harm to him. This apology came shortly before the impending start of the defamation trial.