September 19, 2022 • 2 hours ago • 3 minutes read (Free Press file photo)

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A London long-term care manager fired after a Freedom Convoy donation data breach has launched a $650,000 wrongful-dismissal lawsuit against his former employer, St. Joseph’s Health Care London, an action the hospital is fighting.

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Andrew Adamyk, the former executive director of Mount Hope Center for Long-term Care, is suing St. Joseph’s, which operates the 394-bed nursing home, for $601,355.97 in damages and $50,000 for alleged violations of the Ontario Human Rights Code. termination on February 28. Subscribe to receive a curated collection of links and highlights from our award-winning breaking news coverage, in-depth analysis and unparalleled investigative weekday features. By clicking the subscribe button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300

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Adamyk is seeking $201,355.97 in damages for wrongful dismissal, an amount that reflects 18 months’ pay in lieu of notice, along with $200,000 in aggravated damages and $200,000 in punitive damages, money awarded by a court to punish a defendant or deter defendant or other similar actions in the future. Both Adamyk’s statement of claim and the statement of defense filed by St. Joseph’s contain claims that have yet to be tested in court.

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Adamyk’s firing came after a public list of donors who contributed to the Ottawa Freedom Motorcade’s online crowdfunding campaign was illegally hacked and leaked. The money contributed to the GiveSendGo campaign was intended to support anti-austerity and anti-government protesters as they continued to illegally occupy the streets of downtown Ottawa last winter with delivery trucks and temporary structures. An Andrew Adamyk from London is among GiveSendGo’s donors, contributing $100 to the online fundraising campaign on February 7. Adamyk’s statement of claim is silent on whether he donated to the campaign. The statement of claim alleges that the hospital’s media statements regarding his firing falsely implied that Adamyk did not comply with workplace policies and regulatory standards and did not embody the hospital’s values.

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Adamyk’s statement of claim alleges that the hospital’s public announcement of his firing caused him “stigmatization” and “undue embarrassment” and has harmed his “prospects for future health care employment.” The statement of defense of St. Joseph does not claim that Adamyk was fired because of the escort donation controversy, but claims that he was fired without cause after a series of incidents, including prior discipline, a poor performance review and an employee complaint about his conduct. The hospital claims Adamyk was disciplined after an investigation revealed he violated its policies on workplace civility, discrimination and violence prevention. The investigation was prompted by a complaint in February 2020, the defense statement said.

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The claims of St. Joseph concerns about Adamyk arose during a performance review in January and February 2022. “Reports of plaintiff’s lack of leadership, disorganization and dishonesty emerged during this review,” the defense statement claims. “Questions about the plaintiff’s character were also raised due to his reluctance to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The plaintiff’s decision to remain unvaccinated for an extended period of time while working at one of Ontario’s largest long-term care facilities concerned the leadership of St. Joseph”. The statement of defense of St. Joseph claims the planned termination was accelerated after an employee complaint from February 24, 2022 that Adamyk displayed “Ku Klux Klan-related images at a financial meeting.”

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“The seriousness of this complaint in light of plaintiff’s prior discipline ultimately resulted in expediting plaintiff’s already scheduled termination,” the hospital’s statement of defense said. St. Joseph claims he provided neutral public statements about Adamyk’s firing to the media in question. Adamyk’s claim for alleged violations of the Ontario Human Rights Code stems from a concussion he suffered after an October 2021 car accident and a January 2022 infection with COVID-19, which forced him to leave work. “Adamyk believes he was fired in retaliation for taking disability-related leaves of absence,” the statement of claim said, “or terminated in an effort by St. Joseph’s to avoid the continued residency required by Adamyk’s disability. “Adamyk believes his disabilities were a significant factor, if not the only factor, in the decision of St. Joseph to terminate him.” St. Joseph claims that the workplace accommodation it provided Adamyk was “adequate” and would continue “as long as necessary,” and denies that the termination was related to his “alleged disability or need for accommodation.” [email protected]

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