Athana Mentzelopoulos, the former CEO of Alberta Health Services, has filed a lawsuit against AHS and the provincial government for wrongful dismissal. She claims she was terminated after initiating an investigation into contracts involving government officials. Sandy Edmonstone, a former AHS board member and a potential witness in the lawsuit, is seeking a contempt order against podcasters David Wallace and James DiFiore. Edmonstone is also pursuing a contempt ruling against Bryan Ward, identified as the podcasters’ lawyer. Mentzelopoulos alleges a campaign of harassment, threats, and intimidation targeted at her.
In a recent affidavit, Mentzelopoulos detailed her experience of slander and harassment following her legal actions. She seeks court intervention to address the ongoing campaign against her, including restraining orders and removal of defamatory content. The podcasters are accused of making derogatory remarks about her, causing fear and distress for Mentzelopoulos and her family. The application also requests disclosure of financial backers supporting the podcasters.
The harassment campaign allegedly began after Mentzelopoulos initiated the lawsuit, with Wallace and DiFiore leading the efforts. Mentzelopoulos highlighted instances where she felt unsafe and sought protection through local law enforcement. Edmonstone, in a separate affidavit, described similar intimidation tactics he faced from the podcasters in response to his potential testimony.
An Anton Piller order was authorized to search the homes of the podcasters, Wallace and DiFiore, to gather evidence related to the case. Edmonstone also seeks to cite lawyer Ward for contempt, alleging his involvement in facilitating the campaign against him. The ongoing legal battle has led to multiple investigations and heightened scrutiny on AHS contracting practices.
The RCMP has executed search warrants in connection with the investigations, including visits to MHCare Medical offices. Despite the allegations and legal actions, parties involved maintain their innocence and refute any claims of wrongdoing. The complex legal proceedings continue to unfold as the case progresses.