New Tec responds to lawsuit

By Brad Pritchard Simcoe.com Dec 21, 2012 

NEW TECUMSETH – New Tecumseth has filed its response to a lawsuit filed in November by a former town employee seeking $750,000 in damages over a series of alleged actions and events that led to her termination in October. 

In its statement of defence filed Dec. 21, the town says that Angela Drainville, the former executive director of the Gibson Centre who was hired by the town in April of this year, was fired because she “failed to meet corporate expectations” and “did not work well in the municipal environment.” 

Drainville is seeking $500,000 in general damages for “abuse of process, intentional interference with economic relations, inducing breach of contract, bad faith, breach of contract, negligence and breach of fiduciary duty.” She is also seeking an additional $250,000 in “punitive, exemplary and aggravated damage.” 

She is being represented by Alliston lawyer Kevin Kemp, who last year represented former town clerk Gayla McDonald for her wrongful dismissal lawsuit that resulted in a $150,000 settlement plus other costs in her favour. 

In her lawsuit, Drainville claims she was shown the door for speaking her mind too often and for refusing to “look the other way” over certain “questionable practices.” 

She also alleges Mayor Mike MacEachern and Coun. Richard Norcross acted “malicious and high-handed” by working together to influence town staff to have her terminated. The town says this isn’t true. 

The town denies Drainville was subject to “petulant whims and manipulation” calling the claims “vexatious and baseless” and that the accusations were only made in an attempt to injure their reputations. 

The town said Drainville was fired on the last day of her probationary period (Oct. 10) based on the recommendation of her immediate supervisor, the Parks, Recreation and Culture department head, along with the human resources department head. 

The town denies claims they breached their contract, stating it acted appropriately within their employment agreement. 

In response to the allegations of negligence the town stated it provides a safe working environment, free of harassment and intimidation. 

“At no time during the plaintiff’s brief employment did she file a complaint or raise any concern with her Manager or other supervisory staff regarding the work environment,” reads the statement of defence. 

The town also denies she suffered any damages as a result of her termination and denies that any type of financial compensation is owed to her. 

New Tecumseth Mayor Mike MacEachern declined to comment on the lawsuit.

None of the allegations in either claim have been proven in a court of law.