Throughout a March 17 gathering — 10 days earlier than trial — Pidde allegedly ordered the plaintiffs to name her “The Common,” and to face in a circle round her whereas stomping their ft. The next week, Pidde reportedly spent a lot of the prep session dancing to music.
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A lawyer who represented a gaggle of fired Edmonton Northlands staff threatened to combat considered one of her purchasers and referred to as her racist names, affidavits obtained by Postmedia allege.
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Earlier this month, the CBC efficiently fought a sealing order sought by the previous car parking zone cashiers on affidavits filed in help of a mistrial software.
The cashiers sued Northlands for $9.7 million in 2016, alleging wrongful dismissal and defamation after then-CEO Tim Reid claimed in 2015 that theft was widespread within the division.
The trial started March 28, however rapidly went off the rails because of the conduct of Glenda Pidde, the plaintiffs’ lawyer. The plaintiffs are looking for a mistrial, arguing they will not get a good listening to given their earlier lawyer’s actions.
In keeping with affidavits filed by six of the 19 plaintiffs, Pidde exhibited unusual conduct earlier than, throughout and after trial, together with bumping her chest into one of many purchasers, “banging” on her courtroom desk whereas loudly saying “I am able to go” (to the purpose a sheriff escorted her from the courtroom), and peppering a plaintiff with “weird, racist (and) threatening” messages.
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One plaintiff claims Pidde pejoratively referred to her as an “Indian” on greater than a dozen events.
“YOU ARE NOTHIG (sic) BUT AF–KING INDIAN,” an e-mail from Pidde’s account despatched at 11:20 pm on March 26 reads. “BECAUSE YOU DO NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO STAND UP AND TELL THE F–KING BULLIES TO F–Okay OFF.”
Six minutes later, one other e-mail arrived, calling the plaintiffs “f–king losers” earlier than including “THAT IS WHY WE CAN STEAL YOUR F–KING LAND.”
After this story ran, Pidde reached out to apologize for her conduct.
“The plaintiffs have a exceptional chief Janet Roberts that after six and half years of litigation, I thought-about a buddy,” Pidde mentioned in an e-mail. “As soon as I misplaced her help and on the (fourth) day of trial … I had no selection however to withdraw from the report. I’m sincerely ashamed, apologize, and remorse any foul language.”
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A spokesperson for the Regulation Society of Alberta wouldn’t verify whether or not it has acquired complaints about Pidde, including disciplinary issues solely turn into public when a lawyer is cited beneath the Authorized Occupation Act.
A lawyer since 1985, Pidde started performing for the previous Northlands staff after the occasions group fired its 38 parking cashiers in 2015. Reid cited an audit claiming theft occurred in 12 to 19 per cent of parking transactions.
After years of authorized forwards and backwards, the trial was set for March 2022. Within the weeks main as much as the trial, nonetheless, Pidde started to show “odd and unprofessional” behaviour, the plaintiffs declare of their sworn statements. Angela Pegg described a March 6 trial preparation assembly at Edmonton Inn wherein Pidde “demanded that we act like cheerleaders by chanting ‘we’re gonna win’ repeatedly.”
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Extra pre-trial conferences adopted. Throughout a March 17 gathering — 10 days earlier than trial — Pidde allegedly ordered the plaintiffs to name her “The Common,” and to face in a circle round her whereas stomping their ft. The next week, Pidde reportedly spent a lot of the prep session dancing to music.
On March 27, the evening earlier than trial, Pidde allegedly emailed Pegg asking for a wake-up name, informing her she was taking “some weed gel capsules to attempt to get me relaxed sufficient to sleep.” She later mentioned she was ingesting wine and requested Pegg to convey gum or mouthwash within the morning in case she smelled of alcohol or “seem(ed) stoned.”
‘Eratic and indignant’
The trial received off to a rocky begin, with Courtroom of Queen’s Bench Justice Thomas Rothwell warning Pidde to not have interaction in “private assaults” on the defendant’s lawyer.
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Pidde later instructed the decide she was “haggard” and “making an attempt to remain awake.”
After the second full day of trial, Pegg drove Pidde residence and, on the lawyer’s request, stopped at a liquor retailer and a marijuana dispensary. Pidde additionally “demanded” Pegg put together a witness listing for her by 10 am the subsequent morning.
On March 31, a number of plaintiffs gathered to debate considerations about Pidde, together with her “screaming” at opposing counsel, lack of preparation, and “unwillingness” to talk with them. They agreed to go a word to the clerk requesting to speak to Rothwell.
The plaintiffs bumped into Pidde on their technique to the courtroom. One plaintiff described Pidde as “erratic and indignant” and claims she tried to intimidate her by “bumping her chest into mine twice.” When the plaintiff tried handy the word to the clerk, Pidde allegedly grabbed the paper and crumpled it, forcing her to write down one other.
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As soon as the trial resumed, Rothwell requested Pidde to speak together with her purchasers. When courtroom took a break, Pidde appears left with out chatting with anybody. After lunch, Pidde returned, instructed the plaintiffs to “f—okay off,” then instructed Rothwell she was quitting, the affidavits allege.
After Pidde stop, the plaintiff who was subjected to the racist emails claims she continued to obtain dozens of texts from her former lawyer’s quantity.
In a single message, Pidde allegedly referred to as herself “YOUR UNPAID B—H FOR THE LAST 6 AND A HALF YEARS” and instructed the plaintiff she “HATES YOUR F–KING GUTS AND … IS GOING TO F–KING DESTROY YOU.”
Different messages consult with Jesus, the satan, and repeatedly name the plaintiff “silly” and a “f–king Indian.” One other threatened to “beat” the plaintiff “till you might be f–king useless” and supplied to “fistfight” her within the courtroom.
Throughout a listening to June 10, the plaintiffs’ new lawyer, Philip Prowse, referred to as Pidde’s alleged conduct “terrible” and mentioned the one treatment is a brand new trial.
Rothwell reserved his determination on the mistrial, saying he hopes to have a verdict by July.
Editor’s word: This story has been up to date to incorporate remark from Glenda Pidde.
