Debra Borchardt
MedMen Enterprises Inc. (CSE: MMEN) (OTCQX: MMNFF) has won its case that was brought by former CFO James Parker. In 2019, Parker filed a lawsuit against MedMen, alleging wrongful termination, breach of contract, and retaliation, seeking in excess of $20 million in damages. The case was notable for its scandalous accusations including the creation of a toxic workplace and suggestions that the company paid a third party to buy the stock and push up share prices.
“We are thrilled that the jury concluded that James Parker is not the victim here, but the perpetrator, and that MedMen owes no damages,” said Michael Serruya, MedMen Chairman and Interim CEO. “The false allegations brought by Mr. Parker have grossly misrepresented the environment at MedMen in 2018, and certainly bear no resemblance to the MedMen before us today. We are pleased to put this chapter to rest and focus wholly on taking this company to the next level—leveraging the strength of the MedMen brand and consumer experience to expand across the United States, Canada and internationally.”
MedMen said it has always maintained that the lawsuit and claims were baseless and without merit. The jury agreed, ruling in favor of MedMen on all claims and determining MedMen does not owe Parker any damages. MedMen also asserted affirmative claims against Parker. The jury found that Parker breached his contract, his fiduciary duty, his duty of loyalty, misappropriated trade secrets, and committed conversion, but that there was no harm/damage resulting from his misconduct.
According to Law360, Natalie Lowis, the jury’s foreperson, told Law360 after the trial that the jurors quickly dismissed Parker’s claims that the allegedly toxic environment had anything to do with his quitting. The article also reported that she said they also dismissed his testimony that he felt no choice but to quit because he feared civil or criminal liability due to potentially illegal activity by the company.
“Ultimately, we just kind of felt that there was no harm all around,” she said
She added, “I just didn’t really find it very credible or that [Parker] suffered anything. It seemed, when you tipped the scales, I just believed the company more than him.”
“Now with the record about [Parker’s] lies cemented by this verdict, I think the real story about MedMen and the birth of this industry can come out from behind the last three years of this guy’s baseless lawsuit,” Bierman told Law360.
He added: “[Parker] clearly threw anything he could fabricate up against the wall to see if it would stick. I think the problem is that the jury found that none of it was true.”
