Nathalie Bondil sues Montreal Museum of Fine Arts for $2M over firing

The former director and chief curator of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Nathalie Bondil, is suing her ex-employer for $2 million over her sudden termination in July.

On Friday, a lawsuit was filed against the museum's board of directors, with Bondil asking for $1 million in moral damages and $1 million in punitive damages.

The document referred to the board of directors' behaviour as "abusive" and said that Bondil's "honour and reputation" had been undermined as a result of her sudden firing.

"The defendants orchestrated, led and continue to lead, intentionally, a smear campaign against the reputation of Mme Bondilfor the sole and unique purpose of masking the true reason that they abruptly and maliciously dismissed Mme Bondil," reads the lawsuit.

Along with her financial demands, Bondilis asking that if her suit is successful, the museum publish the court's decision on its website for at least three months.

Following an investigation intopsychological harassment allegations this summer, the museum's board justified their firing ofBondilby saying she had failed to address a toxic workplace.

Bondil offered her own explanation for her sudden termination after 13 years at the helm of the museum. She believes her firing is connected to her questioning of a hiring decision by the board.

She argued thatMary-Dailey Desmarais recentlynamed director of the curatorial division wasn't the best candidate for the job.

Desmarais is part of the powerful Desmarais family, which is one of the museum's biggest donors.

Quebec's Culture Ministryhas ordered an independent firm to look into the museum's management.

CBCNews has reached out to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts for comment.