A lawyer for the woman who accused author and former University of British Columbia professor Steven Galloway of sexual assault says his client could not have foreseen the “reckoning” that followed in the Canadian publishing industry
Galloway is suing the woman, whose name is protected under a publication ban, and other defendants, alleging they defamed him by publishing the unproven allegations online and elsewhere after they surfaced in November 2015.
Galloway has denied the allegations, and a former judge hired by the university to investigate found them to be unsubstantiated.
The university fired Galloway, who has said the claims destroyed his career.
Arden Beddoes, who is representing Galloway’s accuser, known
Arden Beddoes, who is representing Galloway’s accuser, known as A.B., said the fallout from the allegations “can’t all be put at the feet of our client.”
Beddoes said in his opening statement in B.C. Supreme Court on Monday that the case involves various events and “distinct publications” between 2015 and 2018, but the court will have to determine what can be legally attributed to A.B.
“There’s no dispute from us that allegations of rape and sexual assault are serious, and there’s no dispute that Mr. Galloway has described profound personal or professional impacts upon him,” Beddoes said.
This became a big deal … and everything
“This became a big deal … and everything that happened after November 2015, it’s very complex, but we also say it is not proper and we’ll take the court through why we say that just can’t all be put at the feet of our client.”
Beddoes said the woman could not have foreseen UBC’s handling of the situation and its investigation and public statements about Galloway, “let alone that it would become this extensive reckoning and controversy within the Canadian literary community.”
The court learned earlier this month that A.B. was no longer asserting in her defence that Galloway assaulted her, rather that she reported he had done so. The woman is not testifying in the case, citing mental health struggles.
Galloway’s lawyers closed their case Monday after weeks
Galloway’s lawyers closed their case Monday after weeks of testimony detailing the impacts on the bestselling author’s career and personal life after being accused and later fired by UBC.
His lawsuit was originally filed in 2018, alleging statements by A.B. and others on Twitter and elsewhere were defamatory, and he is seeking general and special damages.
A.B. is a former creative writing student who is years older than Galloway, and the court heard they had an extramarital affair for approximately two years more than a decade ago.
