Gilbert Rozon, Just for Laughs founder, ordered to pay accusers $880K

Les Courageuses from left to right Annick Charette, Martine Roy, Patricia Tulasne, Danie Frechette, Anne-Marie Charette, Sophie Moreau and centre back Lyne Charlebois, and back row their legal team, Anne-Julie Asselin, Marie-Laure Dufour, Bruce W. Johnston and Jessica Lelievre pose following a press conference regarding the judgement in the class action lawsuit against Just for Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon in Montreal on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

Gilbert Rozon, the founder of Just for Laughs, has been ordered to pay a total of more than $880,000 to eight of the nine women who had accused him of sexual assault and misconduct.

Quebec Superior Court Justice Chantal Tremblay awarded the damages in a written decision released Tuesday, following a civil trial that lasted 10 months.

• READ MORE: Quebec impresario Gilbert Rozon’s $14M sexual assault civil trial now up to judge

The women suing Rozon were seeking $14 million in civil court for incidents that occurred between 1980 and 2004, during a period when he founded the international comedy festival.

“This judgment therefore aims to bring this long trial to a close and to reaffirm that an infringement of personal integrity, when proven, calls for a legal response proportionate to the extent of the harm suffered,” Tremblay said in her decision.

Rozon had claimed he had consensual relations with three of the nine women, and had denied the other allegations against him, saying his accusers had formed a coalition against him with the aim of getting rich. He countersued four of the women for defamation, demanding $275,000 each in damages.

Tremblay rejected his four counterclaims, and also ordered that he pay the women’s legal costs.

Following the allegations, Rozon stepped down from Just for Laughs in 2017 and later sold the company.

• READ MORE: Gilbert Rozon defamation lawsuit against 2 women comes to an end

Nine women — Patricia Tulasne, Lyne Charlebois, Anne-Marie Charette, Annick Charette, Sophie Moreau, Danie Frenette, Guylaine Courcelles, Mary Sicari, and Martine Roy — went public with their allegations when they filed their claims against Rozon. All of them except Sicari were awarded damages in Tuesday’s ruling.

Only one of a series of police complaints against Rozon resulted in a criminal trial. In that case, he was found not guilty on charges of rape and indecent assault connected to events alleged to have taken place in 1980 involving Annick Charette.

In Tuesday’s ruling, he was ordered to pay Charette $95,000.

The prosecution declined to press criminal charges in 13 other complaints.

The women who had sued Rozon were scheduled to speak with reporters later in the day.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 31, 2026.

Seeking help

If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis:

• Call 911 if you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety.
• The Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres' website has a comprehensive list of sexual assault centres in Canada that offer information, advocacy and counselling. 
• The Ending Violence Association of Canada‘s website has links to helplines, support services and locations across Canada that offer sexual assault kits.
• Indian Residential School Survivors Society crisis lines: [phone] or [phone] (24/7)
• Toronto Rape Crisis Centre crisis line: [phone] (24/7)
• Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: [phone] (24/7)
• Trans Lifeline: [phone]
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 988 (24/7)
• Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre for current and former Canadian Armed Forces members: [phone]
• Read about your rights as a victim on the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime website.