John Furlong poses in Toronto on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
January 28, 2014 - 10:28 AM
VANCOUVER - A reporter who wrote an article containing allegations against John Furlong is now suing the former Vancouver Olympic CEO for defamation.
Laura Robinson has filed a statement of claim in B.C. Supreme Court, alleging Furlong defamed her in a series of comments to the media in the past year and a half.
Robinson wrote an article that was published in the Georgia Straight newspaper in September 2012, alleging Furlong physically and verbally abused students while he was a teacher in northern B.C. starting in the late 1960s.
Furlong immediately responded with a news conference and media interviews in which he denied the allegations while accusing Robinson of having a personal vendetta against him.
Robinson's lawsuit alleges Furlong's comments were false and designed to discredit her, and she's asking the court to award her damages and order Furlong to stop.
The lawsuit says Robinson has suffered financial loses, though it doesn't provide specifics.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014