$9.7M Northlands cashier wrongful dismissal, defamation civil trial gets underway in Edmonton
The lawyer for a group of former Northlands cashiers who say they were defamed and wrongfully dismissed gave her opening arguments in Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench in Edmonton on Tuesday.
The 19 parking cashiers filed a $9.7-million statement of claim alleging they were wrongfully terminated from their jobs in 2015 after being blamed for more than $1-million in missing revenue.
Their lawyer, Glenda Lee Pidde, gave her opening statement Tuesday morning, saying “this case is the worst abuse of power I have ever witnessed.”
“I simply do not understand how an employer treats them like they were treated.”
The workers are seeking aggravated and punitive damages. Their claims have yet to be proven in court.
The hearing will resume Wednesday with testimony from the former Northlands cashiers.
The lawyer for Northlands will give his opening statement later on in the scheduled 14-day hearing.
In October of 2015, Northlands fired all 38 parking cashiers following an internal investigation that found some employees were not following the proper transaction process.
The company said an audit found money was being skimmed from between 12 and 19 per cent of all transactions.
“The loss was of such significance that we needed to react quickly. And, we did,” former Northlands President and CEO Tim Reid told CTV News in an interview on Oct. 9, 2015.
Reid, who is named in the lawsuit alongside Northlands, resigned in January of 2018 after more than three years on the job. He is expected to be cross-examined during the hearing.
Proceedings began Monday but were limited to addressing administrative matters.
In 2019, the group of 19 won a ruling at the Alberta Court of Appeal allowing them to sue for both wrongful dismissal and defamation after Northlands attempted to remove the latter allegation.
Northlands shut down and ceased operations in the summer of 2021 with Explore Edmonton taking over K-Days and Farmfair International.
The non-profit organization originated in 1879 as a livestock and farm exhibition. It would later host thoroughbred horse racing as well as professional hockey at the Coliseum, with the Edmonton Oilers of the World Hockey Association and National Hockey League calling the rink home between 1974 and 2016.
The Coliseum remains standing but has been stripped of its seats after being closed on Jan. 1, 2018. The horse racing track at Northlands Park also shut down later in the same year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada to launch 'national action plan' to fight auto theft
The federal government is launching what it calls its 'national action plan' to combat auto thefts, which will include stronger penalties for thieves, and increased information sharing between police agencies, government officials and border enforcement.
U.S. Supreme Court rejects appeal from former Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by a Canadian-born former Guantanamo detainee who was seeking to wipe away his war crimes convictions, including for killing a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan.
What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend? An expert explains
If you've been to a party lately and haven't seen someone drinking a BORG, you're likely not partying with college students.
Iran's president and foreign minister die in helicopter crash at moment of high tensions in Mideast
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country's foreign minister were found dead Monday hours after their helicopter crashed in fog, leaving the Islamic Republic without two key leaders as extraordinary tensions grip the wider Middle East.
Michael Cohen says he stole from Trump's company as defence presses key hush money trial witness
Former Donald Trump attorney Michael Cohen admitted Monday to jurors in the Republican's hush money trial that he stole tens of thousands of dollars from Trump's company as defence lawyers seized on the star witness' misdeeds to attack his credibility.
The world's best airline is paying staff a bonus of 8 months' salary
Singapore Airlines will reward its employees with a bonus worth nearly eight months of salary, a person familiar with the matter told CNN on Friday.
Investors watching posts from 'Crypto King' in the wake of fraud, money laundering charges
Former investors of the self-styled “Crypto King” say they are watching his social media accounts and worried his displays of wealth are signs he’s spending their money, even now, as another large expense tied to Aiden Pleterski has triggered a previously unreported lawsuit.
Woman, 35, in critical condition after her truck collided with a Via Rail train near Montreal
A 35-year-old woman is in critical condition after the pick-up truck she was driving was struck by a Via Rail passenger train Monday morning in Quebec's Monteregie region.
Jury finds Andrei Donet guilty of second-degree murder in stabbing death of Montreal teen
A jury has found a 21-year-old man guilty of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Montreal teenager Jannai Dopwell-Bailey outside his school in 2021.