Second Lawsuit Alleging Sexual Abuse by John Furlong Coming Apart at Seams

By Keith Fraser
The Province
January 29, 2015

http://www.theprovince.com/news/Second+lawsuit+alleging+sexual+abuse+John+Furlong+coming+apart+seams/10770906/story.html

A second lawsuit alleging that former Vancouver Olympic Games CEO John Furlong sexually abused elementary school students more than 40 years ago appears to be in jeopardy.

In December, a First Nations woman named Beverly Abraham withdrew her claims that Furlong had abused her while she was a young student and he was a teacher at Immaculata Roman Catholic elementary school in Burns Lake, in 1969 and 1970.

On Thursday, lawyers for Furlong applied in court to throw out the lawsuit of a second claimant, Grace Jessie West.

“The evidence seems fairly clear that Ms. West was not even at the school Mr. Furlong was teaching at, at the relevant time,” Vancouver lawyer John Hunter told B.C. Supreme Court Justice Miriam Gropper.

Hunter said there was no explanation for how West, who was not in court Tuesday, could have arrived at her allegations.

He said there was evidence that West, 54, attended a school in Smithers at the time, but no evidence she attended the Catholic school in Burns Lake where Furlong taught.

Hunter said Furlong had sworn an affidavit that he didn’t remember West as a student at all and denies sexually abusing her or anybody else.

At an examination for discovery, a pre-trial proceeding, West’s testimony was “all over the map” as to what school she attended and when, said Hunter, who added that West had been properly served with notice of the dismissal application.

“We think she is aware of this. We have had no communication from her whatsoever.”

The judge said she would give her ruling on the matter at a later date.

A trial date of March 30 has been set for a third claimant who has filed a lawsuit against Furlong, but it’s unclear if it is going ahead.

Outside court, Hunter told reporters that as far as he knows, that claimant no longer has a lawyer.

“Whether it is going ahead or not, I really don’t know,” said Hunter, who added there are no plans at this point for Furlong to seek to throw out the third lawsuit.

The three lawsuits were filed following an article about Furlong published in the Georgia Straight newspaper in 2012 outlining allegations of physical abuse.

Furlong has sued freelance reporter Laura Robinson for defamation and Robinson has responded by suing him for defamation.

Hunter said that there is no trial date for his client’s lawsuit against Robinson. He said Robinson’s lawsuit is scheduled for mid-June in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver.

Contact: kfraser@theprovince.com