Supreme Court Clears Way for Steven Galloway’s Defamation Case to Proceed
The long-running legal saga of B.C. writer and former University of British Columbia professor Steven Galloway has reached a significant turning point. The Supreme Court of Canada has dismissed an appeal from the individuals who had accused Galloway of sexual misconduct, clearing the way for his defamation lawsuit to proceed to trial. This decision comes after years of legal battles, with Galloway seeking to restore his reputation, which he claims was severely damaged by false allegations.
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Galloway, a well-known author of novels like The Cellist of Sarajevo and The Confabulist , was once the chair of UBC’s creative writing program. His career took a devastating hit in 2015 when accusations of sexual assault led to his suspension and eventual dismissal from the university. In 2018, Galloway launched a defamation lawsuit against several individuals, including former colleagues and a former student, alleging that they had spread false claims about him, both publicly and on social media.
The Supreme Court’s recent ruling is a major victory for Galloway, who has been fighting to have his case heard in court for over five years. His lawyer, Dan Burnett, expressed relief at the decision, stating that Galloway is determined to clear his name and finally have his day in court. Burnett emphasized that the legal process is crucial for addressing the damage to Galloway’s reputation, which he describes as having been “devastated” by the allegations.
One of the key issues in the appeal was whether the accusations made against Galloway were protected under British Columbia's Protection of Public Participation Act, which is designed to prevent "strategic lawsuits" aimed at silencing public commentary on matters of public interest. However, the Supreme Court’s decision upholds a previous ruling by the B.C. Court of Appeal, which found that such protection does not apply to the defendants in this case. The B.C. courts had ruled that while public reporting of sexual offenses is important, it is not an absolute protection for those making the accusations, especially when the truth of the statements is disputed.
The next step for Galloway is to prepare for the trial, where he hopes to fully restore his reputation. His case underscores the complex and highly sensitive nature of balancing free speech with the potential harm caused by unverified accusations. Although no trial date has been set, this ruling brings Galloway one step closer to having his defamation claims heard in court. The case continues to be a contentious and emotionally charged issue, raising broader questions about how institutions handle allegations of misconduct and the long-lasting impact of public accusations.
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