A former top prosecutor in Nova Scotia is taking legal action against the provincial government and the Public Prosecution Service, claiming she was subjected to bullying, unfairly sidelined, and eventually pushed out of her leadership position. Kathryn Pentz, a seasoned lawyer with over four decades of experience and a career as a Crown attorney since 1993, filed the lawsuit in the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia.
Pentz accuses Rick Woodburn, the director of the Public Prosecution Service, of engaging in bullying behavior and undermining her authority. She alleges that she was suddenly placed on administrative leave without explanation and later demoted from her role as a chief Crown overseeing all prosecutors in Cape Breton. According to her lawyer, Gavin Giles, the demotion constituted “constructive dismissal,” a legal term used when an employer significantly alters an employee’s position.
The lawsuit also claims that Pentz was wrongly accused of misconduct related to approving invoices from an independent attorney hired by the Public Prosecution Service. Pentz asserts that the actions of Woodburn and another senior official tarnished her reputation, caused financial losses, and led to severe mental health issues, including anxiety and depression.
While the allegations remain unproven in court, neither the Public Prosecution Service nor the Department of Justice, both named as defendants in the lawsuit, have provided any official responses. Pentz, who had an impeccable track record and was appointed as the chief Crown for Cape Breton in 2015, alleges that she faced unfair treatment and ultimately a forced retirement due to the demotion orchestrated by Woodburn.
The legal claim seeks compensation for lost income and benefits, as well as punitive damages related to the alleged mistreatment Pentz endured. The series of events leading to Pentz’s legal action includes her confrontation with Woodburn in a meeting characterized as rude and unprofessional, followed by her subsequent administrative leave and eventual demotion.
Woodburn, who became the director of the Public Prosecution Service in February 2026, and another official’s actions towards Pentz have sparked a legal battle that sheds light on alleged workplace misconduct and mistreatment within the legal system.