The longstanding defamation lawsuits brought by MHA Eddie Joyce against several members of the House of Assembly, including former premier Dwight Ball, have been thrown out by the Supreme Court.

In two decisions released late yesterday, Justice Sandra Chaytor ruled that statements made by Ball, Bruce Chaulk, the former Commissioner for Legislative Standards, MHA Sherry Gambin-Walsh and former Speaker Perry Trimper, were covered by parliamentary privilege.

The judge made the same finding regarding lawsuits filed against MHA Pam Parsons and former MHA Colin Holloway by former MHA Dale Kirby.

Joyce was at the centre of harassment allegations made by Sherry Gambin-Walsh in 2018. He was turfed from cabinet and the Liberal caucus and later disciplined by the House of Assembly. He was ultimately cleared of the bullying and harassment allegations.

Joyce subsequently filed the defamation lawsuit against several players in the scandal over the handling of the harassment complaint.

Lawyers for Ball, Chaulk and the others argued the lawsuits should be dismissed, arguing that materials and evidence collected during the harassment investigation were protected by parliamentary privilege and should not be disclosed through the court process.

A source tells VOCM News that the court costs in the matters are significant.

All legal costs for the defendants, estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, were paid by government and the taxpayers. Six separate law firms defended each MHA in the matter.

Joyce can still pursue an amended claim against Gambin-Walsh for comments she made to the media in the case.