Cherry Brook Zoo sued for wrongful dismissal by Leonard Collrin

Leonard Collrin is suing the Cherry Brook Zoo and its board of trusteesfor unjust dismissal, defamation and damage to property.

Collrin, 69,who founded the zoo 37 years ago, was let go by the zoo in July.

Collrin and his wife LyndaCollrin, who lived in a building on the zoo property, were evicted from their home in July. Collrin was a paid employee of the zoo and his wife worked as a volunteer.

Zoo lawyer John Gillssaid "it's not surprising that Mr. Collrin would take that step."

• Cherry Brook Zoo and Collrins cut ties
• Cherry Brook Zoo says financial questions behind Collrin probe

"When a person leaves their job they likely resort to all avenues to find out and to seek some redress, but it will play out in time before the courts in one fashion or another."

The zoo's board has not received the court documents, but Gills said they plan on vigorously defending the allegations.

The lawsuit states the zoo asked the couple "to move and live permanently on the zoo's property in 1979."

The arrangement was supposed to be temporary but they ended up staying and raised their family there.

80-hour work weeks

"Collrin worked more than 80 hours a week" and his wife worked voluntarily.

The statement of claimalleges that the zoo's board of trustees "acted maliciously" when evicting the Collrins from their home by having police present.

The allegations contained in the statement of claim have not been proven in court.

Financial questions

The lawsuit comes after the board of trustees had asked the Saint John Police Force to investigate "possible financial irregularities."

The court documentstates that Collrin was not given any explanation regarding the accusation.

In the statement of claim, Collrin said because the zoo was unable to obtain its own credit or credit cards, the Collrins used their personal credit cards to help finance the day-to-day operationsat the zoo and were then reimbursed by the zoo.

Collrin did not sign any cheques on behalf of the zoo as cheques where signed by two of the zoos trustees.

The police investigation is still ongoing.

Trustees named as defendants in the lawsuit are Dr. Stephen Justason, James M. Grant, Cathy Holmes, Maria Conway, Dr. John Acker and Alice O'Neill.