The University of British Colum­bia Faculty Association and CAUT are welcoming the Supreme Court of Canada's decision to deny leave to appeal a ruling by the B.C. Court of Appeal that ended a years-long lawsuit against the university and four academic staff members.

Cynthia Maughan, a former UBC graduate student, wanted Ca­nada’s highest court to consider the appeal court’s refusal to overturn a B.C. Supreme Court finding that there was no evidence to substantiate the allegations leveled in her $18 million lawsuit originally filed in October 2002.

Her suit claimed she had been discriminated against on the basis of her Christian beliefs, alleging the defendants had exposed her to ha­tred and contempt and/or had promoted her inferiority as a Christian contrary to the B.C. Civil Rights Protection Act.

In January 2008, the B.C. Supreme Court dismissed Maughan’s action. She then took her case to the Court of Appeal, which upheld the ruling, and finally sought leave to appeal to the high court.

“We’re pleased the Supreme Court of Canada has decided not to prolong this case any further,” said faculty association president Elizabeth Hodgson. “It’s a relief to have some closure for the faculty concerned as it’s been a very long and distressing legal process.”

Legal representation for the UBC academics named in the lawsuit was provided by CAUT on behalf of the faculty association.

“We’re very grateful to CAUT for helping us so substantially defend their academic freedom,” said
Hodgson.