Former UBC professor's defamation trial begins over sex-assault allegations from 11 years ago

A defamation trial began today in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver for novelist Steven Galloway, who is suing a former student and three others over allegations made more than a decade ago.

Galloway, who authored The Cellist of Sarajevo and The Confabulist, is seeking damages from the former student identified only as A.B., along with academics Mandi Gray and Glynnis Kirchmeier, and Dana Kagis. Galloway received a $227,000 settlement from UBC in 2024 over the university's mishandling of his termination. Eight other defendants settled out of court earlier this year. The trial is scheduled for 23 days before Justice Neena Sharma.

Galloway's wife, Katie Wagner, testified as the first witness today. She described learning of the accusations while Galloway was on a business trip to Dayton, Ohio, and said he was admitted to a psychiatric hospital under suicide watch. "He was in a hospital gown, he was upset, he was crying, he was shaky," Wagner told the court. She testified the family's life was upended by online reports calling Galloway a "rapist."

The allegations surfaced in 2015 after UBC asked former student Chelsea Rooney to collect complaints against Galloway from up to 20 former students and others. Writing professors Keith Maillard and Annabel Lyon recruited Rooney for the effort. Days before the trial began, Rooney issued a public apology to Galloway, saying she regretted her role.

Galloway has maintained his innocence throughout. His lawyer, Dan Burnett, told the court: "It's hard to imagine the nightmare that one lives through being accused of being a rapist and having to live through that for 10 years now." Galloway said he remains unable to write and currently sells boats for a living.

The trial is largely focused on damages. A.B. denies she caused any harm and argues Galloway failed to mitigate his own damages.