Lawyer in Northlands civil case presumably threatened shopper

Throughout a March 17 gathering — 10 days earlier than trial — Pidde allegedly ordered the plaintiffs to name her “The Normal,” and to face in a circle round her whereas stomping their toes. 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 one in every of her purchasers and known 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 assist of a mysterious software.

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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 because of the 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–Ok 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 take into account a buddy,” Pidde mentioned in an electronic mail. “As soon as I misplaced her assist and on the (fourth) day of trial… I had no alternative 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 grow to be public when a lawyer is cited below 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 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 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 Normal,” and to face in a circle round her whereas stomping their toes. 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 ingesting wine and requested Pegg to carry gum or mouthwash within the morning in case she smelled of alcohol or “seem(ed) stoned.”

Glenda Pidde, former lawyer for a group of Northlands parking lot cashiers who sued the organization for defamation and wrongful dismissal.
Glenda Pidde, former lawyer for a gaggle of Northlands car parking zone cashiers who sued the group for defamation and wrongful dismissal. Picture by Equipped

‘Eratic and offended’

The trial obtained off to a rocky begin, with Courtroom 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 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 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 technique 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 handy the notice to the clerk, Pidde allegedly grabbed the paper and crumpled it, forcing him to put in writing one other.

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As soon as the trial resumed, Rothwell requested Pidde to speak together with her purchasers. When the courtroom took a break, Pidde apparently 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 known as himself “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 seek advice from 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 lifeless” and supplied to “fistfight” her within the courtroom.

Throughout a listening to June 10, the plaintiffs’ new lawyer, Philip Prowse, known as Pidde’s alleged conduct “terrible” and mentioned the one treatment was a brand new trial.

Rothwell reserved his resolution on the mistrial, saying he hopes to have a verdict by July.

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Editor’s notice: This story has been up to date to incorporate feedback from Glenda Pidde.

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