By Rawlson King
The former executive director of the Sparks Street Mall is suing its management board for wrongful dismissal and loss of reputation.
Kenneth Dale is seeking $90,000 for wrongful dismissal, $50,000 for loss of reputation and $30,000 for punitive damages from the Sparks Street Mall Management Board.
The former executive director also wants: $13,000 in accrued vacation and overtime pay, on top of legal costs and out-of-pocket expenses for his effort to find re-employment.
Dale, who held the post for six years, filed suit against his former employer on Sept. 9, almost 10 months after he was fired.
The defendants earlier this week filed a notice that they intend to defend the suit.
In the documents filed with the Ontario Court, General Division, Dale claims he was wrongfully dismissed “after repeated assurances by the board that his contract would be extended.”
In the documents, Dale claims his performance had rated satisfactory in an evaluation by the board in early Nov. 1997. His job was terminated later that month.
Dale claims in the court documents that the board had no “just cause” to terminate his employment.
He claims “gross procedural deficiencies” occurred at meetings, in which his dismissal was discussed, thereby nullifying the board’s final decision.
Dale says he was not given reasonable notice of the termination of his employment.
He claims statements made by Stan Ages, chair of the board, defamed him, damaging his reputation and slowing the pace of his job search after his dismissal.
According to the court documents, Dale is seeking damages from the board for remarks about Dale’s view of the job that he claims are “negative and disparaging.”
Dale refused to comment on the case.