Calgary's Burnet Duckworth & Palmer laid claim to a milestone settlement in June 2023 in a class-action lawsuit filed against the City of Leduc. This settlement is for some of the most egregious instances of systemic discrimination, sexual misconduct, and sexual assault against female employees, including EMTs and firefighters, dating back 20 years.
This is a historic settlement for workplace misconduct in Canada. It is also the first successful settlement for workplace misconduct including a municipality or a firehall in Canadian history. Highlights of the settlement terms include:
- The highest per-person payout for workplace misconduct in Canadian history.
- Rare inclusion of non-monetary remedies including a public apology from the mayor.
- Lengthy claimant eligibility period of 20 years for any female employee of the City of Leduc.
This agreement is monumental, not only for terms, but for its success in going before the courts despite jurisdiction issues with the WCB collective agreement in place. This has prevented courts from touching these cases in the past. This settlement will have a significant impact on the future of workplace misconduct cases in Canada.
Read more about this landmark win on the firm's website here.
For further inquiries, contact:
Christie Pelehos
Senior Marketing Manager, Burnet Duckworth & Palmer
P: 403.260.0155
C: 403.813.0161
2400, 525 - 8th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2P 1G1
bdplaw.com