The man at the centre of a mysterious criminal investigation at the B.C. legislature was terminated from his previous casino security management job, according to court documents.
Alan Mullen, special adviser to house Speaker Darryl Plecas, initiated a civil lawsuit for wrongful termination in August 2007 against his former employer Great Canadian Casinos Inc.
Documents show the case was either settled or dropped by Mullen prior to a hearing, and without costs to either party, in December 2007.
Mullen had claimed he was terminated without cause and without reasonable notice.
The casino responded to the court that Mullen had, in fact, been suspended for four days, without pay, for “intoxication in the workplace.”
The casino said Mullen did not appeal the suspension, which occurred in September 2006. The two sides continued their working relationship until about a year later, in June 2007, when Mullen commenced an internal claim for 542 hours of overtime worth $11,465. His salary was $45,000.
But the casino claimed Mullen was unco-operative when it attempted to investigate his claim.
“The Defendant [casino] attempted to investigate and resolve the matter through dialogue with the Plaintiff [Mullen] but the Plaintiff steadfastly refused to provide the necessary or any backup documentation or supporting information,” said the casino’s statement of defence.
The casino claimed Mullen was “vexatious” after he commenced an action in provincial court to recover the overtime pay.
The casino said it asked Mullen to provide documentation or supporting information if he wished to pursue the claim, but he instead filed his lawsuit, which the casino said was a “repudiation of the Contract of Employment.”
At this juncture the casino believed Mullen had “by his actions … poisoned his relationship” with the casino. “It was no longer feasible for him to remain in the [casino’s] employ and he was dismissed for cause as a result.”
Mullen started working at the casino as a security guard in February 2004 and was promoted to a security shift manager position one year later. Mullen claimed he was diligent and faithful in his duties. He claimed his dismissal was “callous, abrupt and humiliating,” which caused him anxiety and loss of reputation for which he sought general and special damages.
Terms of any potential settlement were undisclosed and Mullen has not replied to multiple interview requests.
Great Canadian Casinos said it does not comment on personnel matters.
Mullen was thrust into the political spotlight last week when Plecas, the Speaker, revealed Mullen had conducted a secret, seven-month private investigation into sergeant-at-arms Gary Lenz and legislature clerk Craig James.
The files were passed to the RCMP.
MLAs voted last week to suspend James and Lenz pending the results of a police investigation regarding their administrative duties. The clerk oversees the running of the legislature and the sergeant-at-arms is in charge of security.
Two special prosecutors — David Butcher and Brock Martland — have been appointed to manage the investigation, but no charges have been laid and no details of the allegations have been released.
Mullen was hired by Plecas as a special adviser for a reported $75,000.
After his job at the casino, Mullen reportedly volunteered on political campaigns and worked as a corrections official at Kent Institution, a federal maximum security prison in Agassiz, where he and Plecas, a prison judge, met.
Plecas suggested to house leaders last week that Mullen be appointed interim sergeant-at-arms — a suggestion that was met with quick refusal, according to Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth.
James and Lenz say they are unaware of specific allegations against them.
— With a file from the Times Colonist
