Former Alberta Health Services CEO Takes Legal Action Against Podcasters
Athana Mentzelopoulos, the former chief executive officer of Alberta Health Services, has initiated significant legal proceedings against two podcasters whom she accuses of orchestrating a targeted campaign of harassment and defamation. The court application, filed in Edmonton's Court of King's Bench on March 27, seeks both restraining orders and contempt of court citations against James Di Fiore and David Wallace.
Allegations of Sustained Intimidation Campaign
According to court documents, Mentzelopoulos claims that Di Fiore and Wallace have produced and distributed video podcasts containing remarks that she describes as having "assaulted, maligned, intimidated, punished, harassed, and defamed" her. The former AHS CEO alleges this represents "a sustained and ongoing campaign involving slanderous, sarcastic, malicious, malevolent, hateful, and vitriolic statements published online and directed at her and at members of her family."
The legal filing contends that this campaign began in May of last year, shortly after Mentzelopoulos filed her statement of claim and reply in her ongoing wrongful dismissal lawsuit against the Alberta government and AHS. Her lawyers argue that the podcasters' actions constitute "conduct that is likely to interfere with the administration of justice" by potentially influencing witnesses in her civil claim.
Specific Claims and Legal Requests
The application includes several specific allegations and requests:
- Mentzelopoulos seeks to have the podcasters disclose who is financially supporting their video podcast series
- Her lawyers demand the removal of several recordings that remain publicly accessible after some videos were taken down from X and YouTube following an earlier court order
- The former CEO alleges the pair engaged in surreptitious surveillance of her and her extended family
- She describes as particularly concerning a comment from Wallace noting she has a child, which she characterized as "bone-chilling"
Broader Context and Related Legal Actions
This legal action occurs within the context of Mentzelopoulos' wrongful dismissal lawsuit, in which she alleges she was terminated without proper authority while the government maintains her employment was ended due to incompetence. The case has drawn additional attention as former AHS board member Sandy Edmonstone has separately accused Di Fiore and Wallace of similar smear tactics aimed at discrediting him and discouraging his testimony in Mentzelopoulos' legal proceedings.
The podcasters are represented by Calgary-based lawyer Craig Alcock, who has not responded to media requests for comment regarding the allegations. The documents were initially reported by the politics website the Breakdown, which is pursuing its own legal action against Di Fiore and Wallace, and were subsequently shared with Postmedia by Mentzelopoulos' legal team.
Important to note: The allegations contained in the court filing have not been tested in court. Mentzelopoulos' application is scheduled to be heard later this month, where the legal arguments will be presented and examined through proper judicial proceedings.
