The former chief executive of Rogers Communications Inc. has fired back at the company, alleging Rogers is carrying out 香蕉视频直播渁 campaign of dishonesty香蕉视频直播� surrounding his ouster in November 2021 by fabricating claims in its defence to his lawsuit.
In court documents filed Thursday, Joe Natale accused Rogers of altering business documents to support its position in the ongoing legal battle between the two sides.
香蕉视频直播淚n an egregious violation of ethics for one of Canada香蕉视频直播檚 largest public companies, RCI has altered meeting minutes from RCI Board meetings from the relevant period to change statements made by Edward Rogers to the Board to better align with RCI香蕉视频直播檚 self-serving narrative of events,香蕉视频直播� Natale香蕉视频直播檚 filing stated.
It said Edward Rogers, the company chairman, previously filed 香蕉视频直播渄ifferent, contemporaneous versions of these meeting minutes in British Columbia Supreme Court in 2021, representing their accuracy to the Court at that time.香蕉视频直播�
Natale sued the company for wrongful dismissal and breach of contract in August, alleging its chairman carried out 香蕉视频直播渕alicious, high-handed, and oppressive conduct.香蕉视频直播� He is seeking $24 million in compensation and damages.
Rogers responded last month by launching a countersuit against Natale that claims he tried to 香蕉视频直播渟ubvert corporate governance and his fiduciary duties for his personal gain.香蕉视频直播�
None of the claims of either party have been tested in court.
In a statement, Rogers spokeswoman Sarah Schmidt said Natale香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渂ehaviour speaks for itself.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淲hile we had hoped to deal with this matter privately, Joe Natale香蕉视频直播檚 lawsuit has left us with no choice,香蕉视频直播� she said in an email.
香蕉视频直播淲e are confident the courts will discern fact from fiction, including inaccuracies about the company香蕉视频直播檚 actions.香蕉视频直播�
Natale香蕉视频直播檚 departure from the Toronto-based telecom was announced after a boardroom power struggle over the chairman香蕉视频直播檚 desire to replace him with then-chief financial officer Tony Staffieri, now Rogers香蕉视频直播� CEO.
Edward Rogers香蕉视频直播� initial attempt to oust Natale in favour of his No. 2 led instead to Staffieri香蕉视频直播檚 departure in September 2021, as well as a board vote that saw Edward removed from his seat at the head of the table.
Edward penned a shareholder resolution to oust the five directors who had defied him, without holding a board meeting. The company filed a legal challenge to his revamped board, sparking a court battle over who actually served on it.
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge ruled Edward Rogers香蕉视频直播� declaration legitimate and he was reinstated as chairman.
Staffieri replaced Natale as president and CEO in the aftermath of the ruling.
Rogers香蕉视频直播� statement of defence and countersuit alleged that Natale had initially agreed to resign and negotiated a 香蕉视频直播済enerous retirement package,香蕉视频直播� but shortly afterward 香蕉视频直播渞eneged on his agreement and began a campaign to entrench himself.香蕉视频直播�
Natale香蕉视频直播檚 version of events differs. He has argued that he negotiated and agreed upon the terms of his severance in a series of meetings with Edward in September 2021, which were approved by the Rogers board.
But he said a group of board members then asked him to stay on as CEO against Edward香蕉视频直播檚 wishes 香蕉视频直播渢o support the strategic priorities of the business香蕉视频直播� and that the company enhanced his employment terms in written contracts in October 2021, before he was terminated the next month.
Natale香蕉视频直播檚 allegation that company board meeting minutes were altered surrounds the status at the time of Robert D茅patie, the former chair of the board香蕉视频直播檚 human resources committee, and whether he had resigned from the board to assume an executive position with Rogers.
Rogers has submitted that although Edward communicated to the board D茅patie planned to resign as a director of the company pending the approval of a new CEO, D茅patie had not actually stepped down or joined the management team at the time.
The company香蕉视频直播檚 statement of defence argued Natale香蕉视频直播檚 revised contract was invalid since D茅patie did not approve it, even though he was still on the board香蕉视频直播檚 human resources committee at the time.
In new documents filed Thursday, Natale quoted minutes from a Sept. 22, 2021 board meeting filed by Edward with the British Columbia Supreme Court in the board dispute case that same year. The minutes state Edward had reported to his fellow board members that 香蕉视频直播淒茅patie had resigned from the board of RCI effective the day before.香蕉视频直播�
He alleged Rogers has since altered those minutes to state Edward told the board 香蕉视频直播淒茅patie would resign from the board of RCI upon signing an employment agreement for such role.香蕉视频直播�
His side called Rogers香蕉视频直播� position a 香蕉视频直播渢ransparent attempt to deter Natale from holding RCI accountable and to harm his excellent reputation.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淚t is further evidence of RCI香蕉视频直播檚 high-handed and malicious conduct against Natale warranting a claim of punitive damages,香蕉视频直播� the filing stated.
Natale香蕉视频直播檚 lawsuit accused Edward and his wife Suzanne Rogers of hiring actor Brian Cox of HBO香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播淪uccession香蕉视频直播� to create a 香蕉视频直播渄emeaning香蕉视频直播� video about him and allegedly distributing it to family members, friends and colleagues, before it was eventually reported on by media.
The video included a message congratulating Edward Rogers on his 香蕉视频直播渞eal-life Succession at Rogers Communications香蕉视频直播� and used an expletive to describe Natale香蕉视频直播檚 departure from the company.
