Defence lawyer for Just for Laughs founder accuses plaintiffs of ‘collusion’

MONTREAL — The women accusing Gilbert Rozon of sexual assault are guilty of collusion, the defence argued Tuesday in the Just for Laughs founder’s civil trial.

Defence lawyer Mélanie Morin told a Montreal courtroom that the testimony of several of the nine plaintiffs was contaminated by communicating with each other and sharing their stories over the years since allegations against the disgraced former comedy mogul were made public.

Morin said the language used by the plaintiffs to describe Rozon’s alleged assaults became more uniform over time. Several of the women spoke about experiencing blackouts and described Rozon as having “wild eyes,” despite not having used such language in their original police complaints, she said.

The plaintiffs weren’t trying to fabricate stories, Morin said, saying it was “human nature” for them to be influenced by each other. “We’re not saying it was dishonest,” Morin told Quebec Superior Court Justice Chantal Tremblay. “We alter our memories, and they are not reliable …. We get carried away.”

The defence began its closing arguments Tuesday afternoon in the long-running civil trial, and is expected to continue Wednesday.

Rozon, 70, is being sued by nine women for a total of nearly $14 million in damages for sexual abuse they allege occurred between 1980 and 2004. He claims to have had consensual relations with three of the nine women, but denies the other allegations against him.

On Tuesday, Morin suggested the plaintiffs are motivated in part by money, saying they are asking for unusually large sums. Rozon has previously claimed the women formed a coalition against him with the aim of getting rich, an assertion that Bruce Johnston, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, on Monday called incomprehensible.

“It may not be a question of money, but (money) quickly became an issue,” Morin said Tuesday.

During his own closing arguments, Johnston said it was impossible his clients were all lying about what happened to them, and their testimony was corroborated by relatives or therapists they told of the assaults.

But Morin cast doubt on the weight of evidence against Rozon. She said it was strange there were no witnesses to some of the alleged assaults that supposedly happened in public places.

She described Rozon as the “perfect target”: a successful ladies’ man who “rubbed shoulders with thousands and thousands of people.” She said he had “groupies” and received flowers and even an offer of marriage at his office.

But Rozon is not a sexual predator, Morin said. She said it would have been easier for him to say he had sexual relations with the plaintiffs and believed they were consensual, but instead, he’s insisting he had no sexual contact with the majority of the women.

On Monday, Johnston said Rozon has “no credibility whatsoever,” and that his testimony was “riddled with inconsistencies and lies.”

Speaking briefly to reporters outside the courtroom Tuesday, Rozon said there are “always two versions” of events.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2025.

Maura Forrest, The Canadian Press