The former Chief Financial Officer of Alberta Health Services has reached an agreement with his former employer for being terminated without cause from his executive position. The man was terminated in 2012 after certain expenditures, such as butler services and dinners, were made public. The expenses had been approved at the time by senior staff of the government, but to avoid a black eye with the public, the CFO was terminated.
In reaching a settlement, Alberta Health Services and the government now agree that the CFO was fired without cause. Alberta Health Services will pay $600,000 of the settlement award, and the remaining $300,000 will be paid from the provincial government’s risk management fund.
At the time he was terminated, the man did not receive his severance package. The dispute originally began upon his termination in August 2012, after which he had originally filed a $6 million defamation lawsuit against the Health Minister who was in office at the time.
When people feel that their rights have been violated, they may be able to recover damages for their losses through civil litigation of their case. In civil lawsuits, defendants and plaintiffs often are able to negotiate settlements that are satisfactory to both sides. When a settlement cannot be reached, plaintiffs may prevail on their claims by proceeding to trial. Civil litigation may be very complex, and people who have legal disputes with others may benefit by seeking the help of a litigation lawyer. A lawyer can review the relevant facts of an individual case in order to determine what claims may potentially be available depending on the appropriate legal theories. By identifying the legal theories and claims underlying a dispute, a lawyer may help draft and file a complaint with the court.
Source: CTV News, “Alberta Health Services reaches $900K settlement with former CFO Merali “, Julia Parrish, October 31, 2014
