MONTREAL — Quebec’s highest court says it will hear Just for Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon’s appeal over a decision that limited the questions his defence could ask during his civil trial for sexual assault.
Court of Appeal Justice Martin Vauclair did not order the trial suspended, but he did write in a short judgment Tuesday that a final decision in the lawsuit would not be possible until the appeal is settled.
Rozon’s civil trial for sexual assault opened in early December, with nine women seeking a total of nearly $14 million in damages over allegations of sexual assault and misconduct against the Quebec impresario.
Last week, Quebec Superior Court Justice Chantal Tremblay drew on new provincial legislation to limit the questions Rozon’s defence team can put to witnesses as well as the evidence they can introduce.
Her decision was based on changes last year to the Quebec Civil Code aimed at improving access to justice for sexual violence victims by limiting questions about such things as an alleged victim’s past sexual behaviour and their conduct after the alleged violence.
Tremblay ruled that Rozon had failed to establish that such questions were relevant, leading Rozon’s lawyers to launch the appeal.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 12, 2025.
The Canadian Press
