A judge has ruled that former Vancouver Olympics CEO John Furlong did not defame a freelance journalist who reported on allegations he abused First Nations students.
British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Catherine Wedge has released her written decision in a defamation lawsuit filed by freelance journalist Laura Robinson.
Wedge found no evidence that Furlong was motivated by malice and accepted his defence of qualified privilege, meaning he had the right to defend his reputation.
In a statement to Global News John Furlong said he was “pleased with today’s ruling” and “in my heart, from the day this nightmare started, I knew truth would prevail. Now it has.” Furlong also thanks his family and friends for their support during the defamation lawsuit and that what happened to him, should not happen to anyone.
“I’m relieved this nightmare is over and that my family, friends — and others in difficulty — can see in a matter such as this it is possible to prevail and survive,” he says. “I now look to the future, to continue my work in the Canadian sports system and re-building my career.”
After today’s judgement, Robinson initially said she would not be commenting further until she had a chance “to review the reasons and have discussed the decision with my counsel.” But then went on to say in a written statement:
“What I will say is that I fought this case through trial because I believe that freedom of speech and freedom of the press are vital to an open and democratic society. I was committed to seeing both this claim and Mr. Furlong’s former claim against me through to trial. That three year battle has taken a great toll physically, emotionally and financially but my principles stand.”
Robinson wrote a 2012 article published in the Georgia Straight newspaper that included sworn affidavits from eight former students who alleged Furlong beat and taunted them at a B.C. school in 1969 and 1970.
Furlong launched a lawsuit against Robinson for defamation and she filed a counter lawsuit, alleging he had damaged her reputation in public statements after the article was published.
Furlong dropped his legal action against Robinson when the last of three lawsuits alleging sexual abuse was dismissed, but Robinson pressed ahead with her action.
~ with files from Paula Baker
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