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Author Steven Galloway's wife testifies about post-allegations mental health struggle
Galloway seeks special damages after his wife testified that the accusations cost him his UBC job and left him on suicide watch.
On Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, the defamation trial of author Steven Galloway opened in Vancouver, where he is suing four remaining defendants for allegedly spreading unproven sexual assault allegations.
Galloway was fired from the University of British Columbia in 2016 following 2015 sexual assault allegations; a report by Mary Ellen Boyd later concluded the claims were unsubstantiated, prompting his defamation lawsuit in 2018.
Katie Wagner testified that the accusations left her husband "gutted," describing his 72-hour suicide watch in Ohio after the allegations surfaced. She told the court that a "mob of people online" repeatedly spread unproven claims.
Justice Neena Sharma granted continued anonymity to the main defendant, who will not testify due to her fragile mental health. The trial is expected to last 20 days.
With 11 defendants having settled or apologized, four remain in the lawsuit. The proceedings follow an arbitration case that saw the University pay Galloway over $240,000 in damages after his firing.