Former top lawyer at Calgary Police Service settles lawsuit against force, city

A former top lawyer at the Calgary Police Service has settled her legal battle against the force over a contested severance deal that was worth more than $500,000.

Stephanie Morson filed a lawsuit in late 2019 against the city, the force and its new chief of police, Mark Neufeld, after they refused to pay out her severance, which was negotiated in 2018 with then-chief Roger Chaffin.

Morson had been on long-term disability leave from her position as general counsel for CPS, which she said in her statement of claim she was forced to take after being the victim of sexual harassment and bullying at work.

According to the severance deal, CPS would have topped up Morson's disability payments until she was cleared for work and then she would be paid three instalments of $180,000. 

In its original statement of defence, the Calgary Police Service argued that it would be "unconscionable and unjust" for Morson to receive the severance package, alleging in part that she had been in a "clear conflict of interest" when she negotiated it.

However,  in an amended statement of defence filed on Sunday in Court of Queen's Bench, the defendants withdraw several of their counter-allegations against Morson, including that she and Chaffin had been "close personal friends" who had collaborated inappropriately on the severance deal.

The revised pleadings characterize them as "workplace colleagues."

"The CPS and the City of Calgary have withdrawn the allegations that I acted in a conflict of interest or conducted myself unlawfully or unprofessionally in any way," Morson said in an emailed statement to CBC News.

"You will note … that the defendants have expressed regret for the negative impacts the withdrawn allegations have caused me."

The amended statement of defence still argues that the severance package as negotiated with Chaffin was "unenforceable and subject to rescission" because, in part, the then-chief failed to consult an outside lawyer about the deal or disclose its existence to his successor, city officials or the Calgary Police Commission.

Morson said she's pleased to have come to a "satisfactory resolution" but that the terms of the settlement reached with CPS and the city are confidential "and will not be subject to further comment."