Judge strikes down motions in Mazhero civil case

Judge Beverley Browne struck down the first of several preliminary motions in a civil matter launched by a former Chesterfield Inlet teacher against the Government of Nunavut, the Federation of Nunavut Teachers and several other defendants.

Francis Mazhero was fired from his job at Victor Sammurtok School after allegations he sexually touched a student were proven to be false. His $2.6-million civil suit contains claims of massive government conspiracy by a number of individuals.

But in her Sept. 8 oral verdict, Browne ruled against Mazhero in the first of about 10 preliminary motions.

She said she found no basis for allegations of conspiracy against two GN employees, and no wrongdoing on the part of a GN employee and a court clerk accused of contempt of court.

“These actions should be reserved for the most flagrant violations,” Browne said. “They were just doing their jobs.”

She dismissed the matters and ordered Mazhero to pay the individuals’ court costs. She also asked all of the remaining parties to the lawsuit to submit a one-page summary on how to expedite the case and proceed with the grievance.

“The grievance at the root of all these emotions is growing more and more distant,” she said.

However, Mazhero was considering an appeal before he even learned of the decision. He refused to participate in a teleconference, saying he would prefer to read the transcript of the oral verdict.

He argued that he was entitled to a written verdict and that a previous oral verdict was complicating his appeal of another matter.

“Well, you will have to deal with that. I’m not going to deal with that today,” Browne said.