Furlong Drops Defamation Lawsuit against Georgia Straight Freelancer

By Laura Baziuk
AM730
March 31, 2015

http://www.am730.ca/syn/112/70099/furlong

Vancouver’s Olympic boss says he’s ready to move on with his life, now that sexual abuse allegations against him have been dropped or dismissed.

“An almost unimaginable nightmare my family and I have endured finally ended.”

John Furlong says he’s dropping his defamation lawsuit against reporter Laura Robinson because it’s no longer needed for him to prove his innocence.

“It is time now to move on. I have been numb for months trying my best to cope and protect those I love.”

Furlong still plans to fight Robinson’s counter-suit accusing him of defamation.

“She published allegations and lies about me in articles she wrote or advanced by other means in the face of repeated legal warnings.”

Robinson has issued a statement to CKNW.

“At the time the Georgia Straight article was published, I wasn’t even aware of the allegations made by Grace Jessie West and the man whose case was dismissed Monday. My story was based on serious allegations made by numerous individuals, including allegations contained in eight sworn affidavits and I stand by the work I did.

I feel that the dropping of Mr. Furlong’s lawsuit against me today is recognition my reporting on the serious allegations was responsible and appropriate.

My suit is about an attack on my integrity and professional conduct as a journalist. It has never been about these three cases.”

She says she looks forward to the next court date in the case, on June 15.