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 bunch of fired Edmonton Northlands staff threatened to battle one in every 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 parking zone cashiers on affidavits filed in help of a mysterious utility.
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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 as a result of conduct of Glenda Pidde, the plaintiffs’ lawyer. The plaintiffs are in search of 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 saying loudly “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 electronic 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 electronic 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 outstanding chief Janet Roberts that after six and half years of litigation, I think about a good friend,” Pidde mentioned in an electronic 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 affirm whether or not it has obtained complaints about Pidde, including disciplinary issues solely turn into public when a lawyer is cited underneath the Authorized Career Act.
A lawyer since 1985, Pidde started appearing for the previous Northlands staff after the occasions group fired its 38 parking cashiers in 2015. Reid was cited an audit claiming theft occurred in 12 to 19 per cent of parking transactions.
After years of authorized backwards and forwards, the trial was set for March 2022. Within the weeks main as much as the trial, nevertheless, Pidde started to show “odd and unprofessional” conduct, the plaintiffs declare of their sworn statements. Angela Pegg described a March 6 trial preparation assembly at Edmonton Inn during which 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 the trial, Pidde allegedly emailed Pegg asking for a wake-up name, informing her she was taking “some weed gel capsules to try to get me relaxed sufficient to sleep.” She later mentioned she was consuming wine and requested Pegg to convey gum or mouthwash within the morning in case she smelled of alcohol or “seem(ed) stoned.”
‘Eratic and offended’
The trial acquired off to a rocky begin, with Court docket of Queen’s Bench Justice Thomas Rothwell warning Pidde to not interact in “private assaults” on the defendant’s lawyer.
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Pidde later advised the choose she was “haggard” and “making an attempt to remain awake.”
After the second full day of trial, Pegg drove Pidde dwelling and, on the lawyer’s request, stopped at a liquor retailer and a marijuana dispensary. Pidde additionally “demanded” Pegg to organize a witness record for her by 10 am the subsequent morning.
On March 31, a number of plaintiffs gathered to debate issues about Pidde, together with her “screaming” at opposing counsel, lack of preparation, and “unwillingness” to talk with them. They agreed to go a notice to the clerk requesting to speak to Rothwell.
The plaintiffs bumped into Pidde on their solution to the courtroom. One plaintiff describes Pidde as “erratic and offended” and claims she tried to intimidate her by “bumping her chest into mine twice.” When the plaintiff tried at hand the notice to the clerk, Pidde allegedly grabbed the paper and crumpled it, forcing him to jot down one other.
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As soon as the trial resumed, Rothwell requested Pidde to speak along with her purchasers. When the courtroom took a break, Pidde apparently left with out chatting with anybody. After lunch, Pidde returned, advised the plaintiffs to “f—ok off,” then advised 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 himself “YOUR UNPAID B—H FOR THE LAST 6 AND A HALF YEARS” and advised the plaintiff she “HATES YOUR F–KING GUTS AND … IS GOING TO F–KING DESTROY YOU.”
Different messages check 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 was a brand new trial.
Rothwell reserved his choice on the mistrial, saying he hopes to have a verdict by July.
jwakefield@postmedia.com
Editor’s notice: This story has been up to date to incorporate feedback from Glenda Pidde.
