MONTREAL — Just for Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon's civil trial for sexual assault opened Monday at the Montreal courthouse with his lawyer portraying him as the scapegoat in a hunt to find Quebec's Harvey Weinstein.
Nine women who allege they were assaulted by Rozon, 70, are seeking a total of just under $14 million in damages in a case that's expected to sit until the end of March 2025.
One of Rozon's lawyers, Mélanie Morin, told the court in her opening that Rozon had consensual relations with three of the women but he denies any wrongdoing. As he arrived at the courthouse, Rozon told reporters he had confidence in the justice system.
Morin noted that the allegations emerged during the #MeToo movement. "Evidently, they were looking for the Weinstein of Quebec, a public person perfect for the situation," Morin said, referring to the disgraced American movie mogul.
She says there was a "modus operandi" but it was the plaintiffs not Rozon who employed it, noting the victims organized quickly. She said they "contaminated" each other's memories and stories.
The trial before Quebec Superior Court Justice Chantal Tremblay is the latest stage in a winding legal battle that began as a class-action lawsuit but was converted into individual suits after a 2020 Quebec Court of Appeal ruling.
Bruce Johnston, one of the lawyers representing the plaintiffs, told the court they intend to prove that Rozon was a "real predator" who employed a similar technique against his victims.
"He (Rozon) discovered that if he showed no interest, but then changed his attitude all of a sudden, the victim would freeze," Johnston said, and he would then take advantage of them. "That's a sexual assault ... there are still people today who don't understand this."
He asked the court to consider whether it was reasonable that all nine women made up their claims. When lawyers questioned Rozon during pretrial proceedings about the women's motivation, Johnston said he responded that they were jealous of him, they wanted money and they were seeking publicity.
"It demonstrates a profound incomprehension … it's worse than an assault (for the women) to have to relive this," Johnston said. About 77 people in total are set to testify for the plaintiffs over 43 days of hearings.
All nine women were in court on Monday, and when they filed their claims they agreed to be identified. The first to testify was Lyne Charlebois, a film and television director.
Charlebois, who is seeking $1.7 million in compensatory and punitive damages, described an incident in 1982 where she had gone to dinner with her then boyfriend and Rozon. She and Rozon were later heading out for a drink to discuss a work opportunity, she said, when Rozon said he needed to stop at his house to change his shirt.
When she entered, he turned on music and began smoking cannabis and an assault began. She froze as he allegedly sexually assaulted her in the bedroom. "That night is clearer to me than when I gave birth to my son," Charlebois testified, describing the assault as the "scare of my life."
She told her loved ones at the time but said she was ashamed about what happened and it did not occur to her to go to the police. She only came forward in 2017 along with others to denounce Rozon.
The others named in the lawsuits are Annick Charette, Patricia Tulasne, Anne-Marie Charette, Sophie Moreau, Danie Frenette, Guylaine Courcelles, Marylena Sicari and Martine Roy.
In 2020, a Quebec court judge found Rozon not guilty on charges of rape and indecent assault connected to events alleged to have taken place in 1980 involving Annick Charette. Hers was the only complaint that made it to trial as the prosecution declined to press charges in 13 other cases.
Earlier Monday, Rozon's lawyers attempted to seek a two-week postponement over concerns a new law adopted in November by Quebec's legislature improving access to justice for sexual assault victims, which came into effect last week, would impede his right to a fair trial.
However Tremblay refused the request and said the matter could be dealt with later during the trial.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 9, 2024.
Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press