Furlong’s Attacks on Journalist a ‘media Strategy,’ Says Lawyer for Laura Robinson

By Keith Fraser
The Province
June 15, 2015

http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Furlong+attacks+journalist+media+strategy+says+lawyer+Laura+Robinson/11138365/story.html

A lawyer for freelance journalist Laura Robinson argued Monday that former Vancouver Olympics CEO John Furlong employed a “media strategy” to attack his client and never seriously intended to follow through with his defamation lawsuit against her.

After Robinson wrote an article in the Georgia Straight in September 2012 alleging that Furlong had abused some former students in northern B.C. more than 40 years ago, Furlong filed a defamation suit against her.

Robinson counter-sued him for defamation. In March, after three lawsuits alleging Furlong had sexually abused students had been dismissed, Furlong dropped his lawsuit.

Robinson decided to proceed with her suit, and in his opening statement to a judge Monday her lawyer, Bryan Baynham, argued Furlong did little to advance his lawsuit.

“If he seriously felt he was defamed by Ms. Robinson, why drop the lawsuit? I’ll be interested in hearing Mr. Furlong’s answer to that question.”

Robinson alleges that Furlong alleged she was an unethical, incompetent journalist who fabricated the allegations for person gain. In court documents, Furlong has denied the allegations. He has never been charged with any crimes and an RCMP investigation into sexual abuse allegations against him was dropped without any charges being laid.

Baynham told B.C. Supreme Court Justice Catherine Wedge that despite filing the lawsuit, Furlong did little apart from making a series of defamatory statements in press conferences and comments to media outlets.

He said that, ironically, when Furlong dropped the suit, the former Olympics executive said it was extraordinary that almost anyone could make ruinous, toxic allegations, seemingly without consequence.

“Mr. Furlong did just that. He abandoned with impunity ruinous, toxic allegations against Ms. Robinson, leaving untold pain and damage behind him.”

The strategy in using the media to lambaste Robinson has increased the damage to her reputation, said Baynham.

“Her credibility with publishers has been seriously harmed, alleging that Ms. Robinson was an activist or somehow made up the allegations she reported on,” he said.

“Her ability to find publications that will publish the stories she produces as a journalist has been greatly diminished. Her income has dropped and her ability to earn income in the future has been significantly impaired.”

Baynham said Robinson’s legal fees have been in excess of $150,000 and she has used virtually all of her savings defending herself, including redeeming her RRSPs. Her speaking engagements have “dried up” and she’s had less time to devote to her job.

Robinson had vigorously defended herself, not only to clear her name, but also for the rights of investigative journalists to take on people of power and influence such as Furlong who prefer that the past remain hidden, he added.

“The bottom line, she’s a journalist doing her job.”

Robinson’s first witness was John Miller, a former dean of the Ryerson school of journalism. A report prepared by him concluded that Robinson’s work was consistent with recognized standards of investigative journalism.

Robinson is expected to begin her testimony Tuesday.

John Hunter, Furlong’s lawyer, objected to some of the Miller report, arguing that the central issue in the case was whether or not Furlong was attacked and whether he was entitled to respond to the attacks as an occasion of what he called qualified privilege.

Outside court, Hunter told reporters that qualified privilege will be the main defence for his client.

“I don’t think there can be very much doubt that he was attacked. Whether the response-to-attack defence will be accepted will be up to the judge.”

Contact: kfraser@theprovince.com