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Town of Norman Wells drops lawsuit against former SAO

The municipal government in Norman Wells has withdrawn a lawsuit seeking damages for alleged fraud involving a former senior administrative officer.
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The Town of Norman Wells has dropped its lawsuit against Catherine Mallon, the townSA国际影视传媒檚 former senior administrative officer. The municipality was seeking damages after alledging Mallon committed fraud. Mallon indicated in a statement on Jan. 25 that she intends to file suit against the town for SA国际影视传媒渕alicious prosecution.SA国际影视传媒 Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The municipal government in Norman Wells has withdrawn a lawsuit seeking damages for alleged fraud involving a former senior administrative officer.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is a time for conciliation. We have chosen to take the moral high ground. We concede the fraud lawsuit by consenting to (former SAO) Ms. (Catherine) MallonSA国际影视传媒檚 application for summary dismissal,SA国际影视传媒 reads a news release on the Town of Norman WellsSA国际影视传媒 website, posted Jan. 25.

The townSA国际影视传媒檚 correspondence makes note of a forensic audit carried out by accounting firm EPR Yellowknife Accounting Professional Corporation with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs helping to establish the terms of reference.

SA国际影视传媒淪A国际影视传媒n light of EPRSA国际影视传媒檚 public apology to Ms. Mallon we have determined it no longer prudent to pursue the current course of action,SA国际影视传媒 the municipalitySA国际影视传媒檚 news release states. SA国际影视传媒淲e have successfully rectified any employee and financial issues faced by the town and have mitigated the potential for repeat of what the former council experienced,SA国际影视传媒

Mallon, whom the town accused of improper credit card use and irregularities in her compensation without any such criminal conviction against her, is now calling on Premier Caroline Cochrane to hold a public inquiry SA国际影视传媒渢o get to the bottom of this shocking waste of public resources, and to avoid this kind of tragedy from happening to anyone else.SA国际影视传媒

SA国际影视传媒淔rom the very first moment that this lawsuit was served on me, I have maintained my innocence. The lawsuit started with a justice of the superior court referring to the townSA国际影视传媒檚 conduct against me as a SA国际影视传媒榤iscarriage of justiceSA国际影视传媒 and the townSA国际影视传媒檚 decision to consent to my application to dismiss the lawsuit in its entirety is proof that the miscarriage of justice has continued for nearly four years,SA国际影视传媒 stated Mallon, whose worked for the town between 2015 and 2018 and whose $2.57-million defamation lawsuit against the town was dismissed in 2021.

SA国际影视传媒淭wo weeks ago the townSA国际影视传媒檚 witnesses were cross-examined by my legal counsel, and it became entirely clear not only that the town has no case against me, but it never did. Further, it is clear that the town was told about the significant and blatant flaws in its case repeatedly, but did nothing about it,SA国际影视传媒 Mallon wrote in a statement to media released shortly after the Town of Norman wells issued its news release. SA国际影视传媒淚 urge the citizens of Norman Wells to review these court documents to see what the actual evidence was.

SA国际影视传媒淭he claim against me was malicious from the start, and the continued prosecution of the action against me was malicious. It has cost the town untold amounts of public funds in wasted legal fees. The townSA国际影视传媒檚 statement posted on its website is a pathetic attempt to justify four years of its misconduct,SA国际影视传媒 Mallon continued. SA国际影视传媒淎fter putting me through four years of hell with patently false allegations, the town falsely claims to have taken a SA国际影视传媒榤oral high roadSA国际影视传媒 in consenting to the dismissal of the lawsuit against me. The truth is exactly the opposite: the town is consenting to the action being dismissed because it finally had no choice but to admit that there never was any basis to sue me and it is desperate to save face.SA国际影视传媒

The townSA国际影视传媒檚 news release alludes to the financial strain of the legal action.

SA国际影视传媒淲e were cognizant from the outset that this was going to be a resource intensive process. We have consistently checked the viability of this investment and have now determined it is no longer viable,SA国际影视传媒 it reads.

It also acknowledges the emotional toll that the legal case has wrought on numerous parties.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is a natural point for reflection. This has been a long legal process through which we have learned that legal processes are very difficult and hurtful to a community and the individuals involved,SA国际影视传媒 reads the municipalitySA国际影视传媒檚 news release. SA国际影视传媒淲e initiated this action out of respect for our constituents. Former mayor Nathan Watson reminded Council in his letter of apology to Town Council that our community is hurting because of the past and our job is to help mend the community. We must represent our entire community in a constructive fashion. We sincerely thank former Mayor Nathan Watson for his heartfelt message.SA国际影视传媒

However, the court proceedings are not necessarily concluded because Mallon stated that she fully intends to file a lawsuit alleging malicious prosecution against the town SA国际影视传媒渁nd those responsible for maintaining this frivolous action against me, and to seek damages against those responsible.SA国际影视传媒



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