Open this photo in gallery:
Author and former University of British Columbia professor Steven Galloway leaves B.C. Supreme Court in early October.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
The former student who accused bestselling author Steven Galloway of sexually assaulting and harassing her told a confidant that she was paid by UBC to participate in an independent inquiry, the confidant testified Monday.
Mr. Galloway is suing four defendants for defamation for the allegations, including the former student, known as A.B. because of a publication ban, and her confidant, Trent University assistant professor of criminology Mandi Gray.
Dr. Gray told the court during her second day of testimony at the defamation trial that the former student was given money by the school so she could get therapy and hire a lawyer. She is currently on medical leave from her position at Trent owing to the stress of the proceedings.
Public relations expert tells court Galloway bungled response to sexual assault scandal
She testified that she discussed the University of British Columbia’s arrangement with A.B. as part of several conversations in late 2015 after A.B. began seeking her advice that summer. Dr. Gray had become a well-known advocate for victims of sexual violence after filing a human-rights complaint against York University over its handling of her own sexual assault allegations involving a fellow student.
Mr. Galloway, who was the chair of UBC’s creative-writing program, launched a lawsuit against almost two dozen defendants in 2018. He claims that A.B.’s allegations ruined his reputation, cost him his job and destroyed his personal life.
Only A.B., Dr. Gray and two others are on trial. The rest have settled with Mr. Galloway, who has never been charged with a criminal offence and has always denied he sexually assaulted A.B., with whom he was having a two-year affair.
The court has already heard A.B. was awarded a $30,000 bursary after graduating in 2015, money that Mr. Galloway testified that she was not entitled to. Dr. Gray testified Monday that she did not know whether the bursary money was the same as the funds given to A.B. to participate in the independent inquiry.
When A.B.’s allegations were brought to the faculty of arts and Mr. Galloway was suspended in November 2015, UBC hired former B.C. Supreme Court justice Mary Ellen Boyd to investigate the allegations. Dr. Gray testified Monday that A.B. told her at that time that she was unable to work because of mental health problems.
“I knew there was an exchange of money from UBC to help offset legal costs and her therapy so she could meaningfully participate in the Boyd investigation,” Dr. Gray told the court under cross-examination from Mr. Galloway’s lead counsel Daniel Burnett.
She said she did not know how much UBC paid A.B. Last month, court heard A.B. threatened to sue UBC for up to $3-million, claiming negligence, breach of contract and other offences.
Last week, Justice Neena Sharma denied The Globe and Mail’s request to access an exhibit filed earlier in the court proceedings involving A.B.’s draft statement of claim against the university because the lawsuit threat may be discussed during closing arguments at the end of the month.
A.B. is not testifying at trial because the proceedings have precipitated a prolonged mental health crisis, her lawyers have told the court, including two attempts to kill herself this year. At the start of the trial, her lead lawyer Arden Beddoes told the court that he was withdrawing her defences of truth and fair comment, but she is not admitting that she spread lies about Mr. Galloway. A.B. has also amended her defence to say she reported sexual assaults and is no longer saying she had been sexually assaulted, Mr. Beddoes said at the time.
She and Dr. Gray are being sued for defamation alongside Dana Kagis and Glynnis Kirchmeier, a former UBC student who is representing herself and will begin testifying Tuesday.
In her testimony on Monday, Dr. Gray said A.B. told her she was exploring the possibility of a civil suit against UBC. She also testified that she counselled A.B. that, from her own experience with York, a human rights complaint might be the best way to change the school so it better protects women who come forward with complaints.
Neither option seemed particularly appealing to her friend, Dr. Gray told the court.
“[A.B.] emphasized her concerns about the deep shame she experienced, and the desire to not have specific details made public nor litigated was important to her,” Dr. Gray testified.