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'Looking for the Weinstein of Quebec': impresario Gilbert Rozon's civil trial begins 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. Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press Dec 9, 2024 2:58 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Just for Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon and one of his lawyers, Mélanie Morin, are seen leaving the Montreal courthouse during a break in proceedings on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sidhartha Banerjee 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 See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More The Mix 10 new TV shows from 2024 that are worth watching before the new year Dec 9, 2024 3:20 PM Swift's daily impact on Vancouver may have exceeded 2010 games, says industry figure Dec 9, 2024 3:07 PM B.C. selects nine wind power projects to boost energy supply by eight per cent a year Dec 9, 2024 2:54 PM Featured FlyerNonenetbet99 。

Fresh off its biggest win of the season, Penn State plays its first true road game Tuesday when it visits Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J. Aces will be wild for the Nittany Lions (8-1, 1-0 Big Ten) and the Scarlet Knights (5-4, 0-1) as Penn State's Ace Baldwin Jr. will square off against Ace Bailey of Rutgers. Baldwin is the Nittany Lions' leading scorer at 15.1 points per game and dishes out 8.1 assists -- fourth in the nation entering Monday's action. He registered 17 points and six assists Thursday in an 81-70 victory over then-No. 8 Purdue in a game where Penn State led by as many as 27. Freddie Dilione V chipped in 14 points for the Nittany Lions, who had not defeated a Top 10 team since 2019. "A win like that's a statement win," Dilione said. "I just think it's going to put everybody on notice. We're just a walkover team. We're always going be the underdogs, and that's our mentality. We've just got to come in every game and just punch everybody in the mouth." Penn State must be careful not to suffer a letdown against a talented Rutgers squad led by freshmen Dylan Harper (23.1 points per game) and Bailey (17.9). The duo combined for 30 points in the Scarlet Knights' last game -- an 80-66 setback at Ohio State. The defeat was the fourth in the last five games for Rutgers, which plays seven of its next eight in New Jersey. "We've got to get better," Scarlet Knights coach Steve Pikiell said. "We got to get some more consistency out of a lot of things, especially our defense. Can't give up 80 points on the road and expect to win in this league." In last season's meeting with Penn State, it was offense that was Rutgers' biggest issue. The Scarlet Knights shot just 1-of-17 from 3-point range and 34 percent overall in a 61-46 home defeat. "(It's about) finding ways of how to bounce back as a team and staying together," Harper said. "Even though we lose, we're still going to find a way." --Field Level Media

Games on a college basketball schedule don't contrast much more than the two NC State has this week. The Wolfpack (6-3) host Coppin State (0-10) on Tuesday in Raleigh, N.C., then hit the road to challenge No. 10 Kansas on Saturday. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Coming off what was likely a week's worth of intense practices, No. 10 Kansas returns home for a matchup with North Carolina State on Saturday afternoon in Lawrence, Kan. The Jayhawks (7-2) lost back-to-back games versus unranked opponents, the first time in school history that they have done that while ranked No. 1. Now they have to regroup to face the Wolfpack (7-3). Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Cardlytics reports that card-linked cash-back offers represent a strategic stocking stuffer for smart shoppers navigating the expensive holiday landscape. Click for more. Holiday spending hacks: How to unwrap savings without sacrificing festive cheerA business update was the main news powering Alaska Air ( ALK -1.34% ) stock to a double-digit gain over the past few trading days. During the week, the carrier's shares rose by just over 15% in price, according to data compiled by S&P Global Market Intelligence . Accelerating into the future On Tuesday, Alaska unveiled its "Alaska Accelerate" three-year plan to make the airline conglomerate a more important player in the industry. The announcement came not long after the company closed its $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines in mid-September. Alaska said the anticipated $500 million in cost synergies from the deal will help it deliver profit margins of 11% to 13%, with per-share earnings climbing to $10 by 2027. Among other business-boosting measures, it will launch a new international gateway from its current primary hub, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac). Flights from Sea-Tac are to include nonstop routes to Tokyo and Seoul. The company also said it will roll out a premium credit card "with industry-leading benefits." Two pundits weigh in positively Several professional Alaska-watchers became more bullish on the airline's stock in the wake of the announcement. TD Cowen's Tom Fitzgerald raised his price target to $78 per share from his previous $68, maintaining his buy recommendation as he did so. According to reports, Fitzgerald is so optimistic about Alaska's future that he made it his company's No. 2 top stock pick. One of his peers also raised his Alaska price target. This was Morgan Stanley analyst Ravi Shanker, who now believes the stock could reach $90 per share; his preceding fair value assessment was $70. Shanker left his overweight (read:buy) recommendation unchanged.

West Virginia knocks off No. 3 Gonzaga 86-78 in overtime in the Battle 4 AtlantisBusinesses get new boost into $18 billion export market in MarylandMichael Moore reacted to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson by saying he wants to “pour gasoline” on the “anger” people feel toward the health insurance industry. In a Friday Substack post , Moore said that while he condemns “murder” in general, he does not condemn the “anger” people feel “toward the health insurance industry.” In fact, he wants to further fuel that anger. “The anger is 1000% justified. It is long overdue for the media to cover it. It is not new. It has been boiling. And I’m not going to tamp it down or ask people to shut up. I want to pour gasoline on that anger,” Moore wrote. Moore goes on to point out that Thompson’s murder suspect, Luigi Mangione, appeared to reference his work in his manifesto. “In his manifesto, he references how I’ve ‘illuminated the corruption and greed,’ implying folks should go to my work to understand the complexity — and the power-hungry abuse — within our current system,” Moore noted. “It’s not often that my work gets a killer five-star review from an actual killer,” he added, before disclosing that he has therefore received a slew of calls and emails asking him to condemn murder. In response to those inquires, Moore wrote, “Do I condemn murder? That’s an odd question,” before noting that he has condemned murder in his films, which should be evidence that he does not condone violence. But when it comes to people condemning “anger toward the health insurance industry,” Moore said, “I am not one of them.” “Because this anger is not about the killing of a CEO. If everyone who was angry was ready to kill the CEOs, the CEOs would already be dead. That is not what this reaction is about,” Moore said. “It is about the mass death and misery — the physical pain, the mental abuse, the medical debt, the bankruptcies in the face of denied claims and denied care and bottomless deductibles on top of ballooning premiums — that this ‘health care’ industry has levied against the American people for decades,” he added, before claiming that the government has enabled the healthcare industry to “murder.” Moore continued: Yes, I condemn murder, and that’s why I condemn America’s broken, vile, rapacious, bloodthirsty, unethical, immoral health care industry and I condemn every one of the CEOs who are in charge of it and I condemn every politician who takes their money and keeps this system going instead of tearing it up, ripping it apart, and throwing it all away. We need to replace this system with something sane, something caring and loving — something that keeps people alive . “This is a moment where we can create that change,” Moore added, before attacking the “mainstream media” for refusing to publish Mangione’s manifesto. Moore concluded his lengthy post with a link to his 2007 film, Sicko , and a call for the Unites States to “throw this entire system in the trash” and implement “universal” cradle-to-grave, government-funded healthcare. Alana Mastrangelo is a reporter for Breitbart News. You can follow her on Facebook and X at @ARmastrangelo , and on Instagram .

How major US stock indexes fared Tuesday, 12/10/2024