Lindsay Shepherd's $3.6 Million Lawsuit Against Wilfrid Laurier University and Individual Defendants
Lindsay Shepherd's $3.6 Million Lawsuit Against Wilfrid Laurier University and Individual Defendants
Lindsay Shepherd's $3.6 Million Lawsuit Against Wilfrid Laurier University and Individual Defendants
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ONTARIO
SUPERIOR COURT OF JUSTICE
BETWEEN:
LINDSAY SHEPHERD
Plaintiff
-and-
STATEMENT OF CLAIM
TO THE DEFENDANT:
IF YOU WISH TO DEFEND THIS PROCEEDING, you or an Ontario lawyer acting for you
must prepare a Statement of Defence in Form l8A prescribed by the Rules of Civil Procedure,
serve it on the Plaintiff s lawyer or, where the Plaintiff does not have a lawyer, serve it on the
Plaintiff, and file it, with proof of service in this Court office, WITHIN 20 DAYS after this
Statement of Claim is served on you, if you are served in Ontario.
If you are served in another province or territory of Canada or in the United States of America, the
period for serving and filing your Statement of Defence is 40 days. If you are served outside
Canada and the United States of America, the period is 60 days.
Instead of serving and filing a Statement of Defence, you may serve and file a Notice of Intent to
Defend in Form 18B prescribed by the Rules of Civil Procedure. This will entitle you to 10 more
days within which to serve and file your Statement of Defence.
you wish to defend this proceeding but are unable to pay legal fees, legal aid may be available to
you by contacting a local legal aid office.
IF YOU PAY THE PLAINTIFF'S CLAIM, and $5,000 for costs, within the time for serving
and filing your Statement of Defence you may move to have this proceeding dismissed by the
Court. If you believe the amount claimed for costs is excessive, you may pay the Plaintiff s claim
and $400 for costs and have the costs assessed by the Court.
sf
olt,, I
Date: jUN.l-t1818 Issuedby gW
Ltocal Registrar
85 Frederick Street
Kitchener, Ontario N2H 0A7
TO: NATHANRAMBUKKANA
WILFzuD LAURIER LTNIVERSITY
75 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario
N2L 3C5
- E'
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CLAIM
l. The Plaintiff claims the following against the Defendants, individually, and
3. The Defendants Herbert Pimlott and Nathan Rambukkana are Professors at the
for the Masters Program of the University and Rambukkana, at the relevant time,
was the Professor for the course which Shepherd was a Teaching Assistant for. Both
had considerable influence over the Plaintiff 's employment as a Teaching Assistant
4. The Defendant Adria Joel was, at all relevant times, acting manager of the
Prevention".
6. The University is vicariously liable for all of the conduct of the individual
2001 and 2016 ("the Act"), in providing the fundamental jurisdiction and authority
for the University to operate, states, as its object, in Section 4, that the objects of the
University are for the pursuit of learning through scholarship, teaching and research
within a spirit of free enquiry and expression (emphasis mine). The University
8. Pursuant to Section 5, Powers of the University,the Act further states that "the
University has all powers necessary and incidental to the satisfaction and
statute, creating and empowering the University, provides it with no other power or
authority.
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9. Shepherd was, at ail relevant times, a student in the University's Masters Program
pursuing her Masters degree and employed as a Teaching Assistant for a course
approximately 25 students, was assigned topics and was entitled, pursuant to the
Rambukkana was an indifferent mentor who had only met with Shepherd twice
about his course and only then briefly. Ironically, given his complaint against her as
delineated below, he provided her with very limited direction as to the content to
I1Il. The topic for one of her Communication classes, held on November l, 2Al7 , was
grammar. She taught three classes that day. Shepherd introduced the topic of the
languages and, to facilitate discussion on the subject, showed a few minute extract
Department and Nicholas Matte, from the University of Toronto's Sexual Diversity
Studies Programme.
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12. Peterson and Nicolas Matte were debating compelled gender pronouns. Peterson
argued against being required to use these new words which, he argued, had not
13. Shortly following that class, Rambukkana ordered her to attend a meeting, the very
next day, with himself, Pimlott, the Program Coordinator for the entire Masters
Program, and Adria Joel, acting Director of the Diversity and Equity Oflice. Both
Rambukkana and Pimlott had considerable authority over Shepherd's fate at the
Llniversity. Apparently, so did Joel. Shepherd had never been called into such a
existence.
14. At this session, all three lambasted Shepherd, viciously attacking her personally,
falsely alleging that there had been a complaint or complaints about her tutorial and
insisting that, in playing the TV Ontario clip, she had been threatening to her
students. Rambukkana ludicrously claimed that her showing this TV Ontario clip
breached the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and federal Bill Cl6, (which does not
environment and was illegal. Shepherd was accused of targeting "Trans Folks" even
though Shepherd had chosen no side, had, up until that point, disagreed with what
she understood to be Peterson's perspective and presented the arguments and the
was part of the alt-right andthat "playing a clip of Peterson, without first providing
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any previous context to the students, was iike neutrally playing a speech by Adolph
Hitler". Shepherd argued that doing as he asked would be taking sides and that was
not her role. She was then further rebuked for taking that position. At various
points, during that almost hour long vicious and abusive attack, Shepherd was
reduced to tears.
Rambukkana implied, Jordan Peterson has spent decades educating his students
about the evils of the holocaust and specifically, as part of his psychological
teachings, he has studied and taught how individuals degenerate ethically to the
16. During the meeting, Shepherd was effectively attacked as a protegee and supporter
of Peterson. Pimlott continued to libel Peterson explaining that people like him live
those ideas because she had neutrally shown this video with its opposing viewpoints.
people based on their gender identity or gender expression and, in doing so, had
violated the Federal Human Rights Code ofBill Cl6. although Shepherd's conduct
17. Shepherd asked the individual defendants whether her job as a Teaching Assistant
was to shield her students from debate and ideas. Rambukkana asserted that it was
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and then accused her of targeting students due to their gender expression and
identity. When Shepherd pointed out that she had not taken sides in this debate, the
18. The three refused to advise Shepherd what the Complaint was or who complained,
claiming that even the number of complaints was confidential. As was subsequently
19. Shepherd protested that she did not understand how her teaching methods
constituted any disservice to the University since the ideas in the video were already
part of social curency. Joel responded, without any foundation, accusing her of
24. Contrary to the allegations of the Defendants at this meeting, Shepherd conducted
herself at this seminar precisely as her role required and singularly represented the
principles of the Wilfrid Laurier University Act.For this, she was viciously attacked
by Rambukkana, Pimlott and Joel. They continued to abuse her even after she
21. Shepherd apologized for crying during the meeting pleading, "I am stressed out
because to me this is so wrong so wrong" noting that "the very spirit of the
University is to challenge ideas that you already have" and reminding them that she
22. The meeting concluded with Shepherd being advised, even after she promised to
show no further videos of Peterson, or'anything of the like' that "she now had to
run all of her seminar notes past Rambukkana", to "obtain specific approval for any
future clips of anyone that she intended to show" and that Rambukkana might have
to sit in on her future classes. She was prohibited from showing any further videos.
23. The conduct of the Defendants was objectively outrageous and flagrant. They had
reckless disregard for the fact that the foreseeable consequences oftheir conduct
24. There are various policies of the University which constitute a contract between the
25. Article 1.01 of the Procedures Relating to the Prevention of Harassment and
26. It also noted in Article 1.02 of the Procedures Relating to the Prevention of
Harassment and Discrimination Policy 6.1- that "If the concern falls outside of this
individual will be referred to the appropriate offrce". That also did not occur.
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27. Under article 3.02 of the Procedures Reiating to the Prevention of Fiarassment and
Discrimination Policy 6.1, the Office of Dispute Resolution and Support will
determine whether a complaint may go forward. Article 3.04 states that the Office
28. Article 5.0i of the Procedures Relating to the Prevention of llarassment and
Discrimination Policy 6.1 states that an investigation may be required when other
etlbrts to resolve the Complaint have not been successful or are not appropriate.
29. In the Complaint by Jackson, ref'erred to below, no other eflorts to resolve the
30. Article 8.03 of'the Procedures Relating to the Prevention of Harassment and
It was used by Rambukkana, Joel and Pimlott for precisely that purpose.
31. Article 8.05 of the Procedures Relating to the Prevention of Harassment and
Diserimination Policy 6.1 notes that the lJniversity may take disciplinary action
reckless, malicious or not in good faith. Although Pimlott, Rambukkana and Joel
had acted recklessly, maliciously and in bad faith, and it was ultimately determined
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by the University that this meeting should never have occurred, no action has been
taken by the University against them and Shepherd was provided no protection from
their predations.
32. The Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination policy provides, in Article 1.02,
that each member of the Campus Community is responsible for helping to create an
environment that promotes mutual respect and understanding for the dignity and
rights of others. This policy was violated by Rambukkana, Pimlott and Joel.
34. This provision too was violated by Rambukkana, Pimlott and Joel.
35. Article 2.07 of the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination Policy defines a
andlor pervasive and cause unreasonable interference with a person's study or work
environment can rise arise from even a single incident. It may be created by the
36. Rambukkana, Pimlott and Joel created a poisoned work environment for Shepherd
37. Article 4.04 of the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination Policy states that
the University will take appropriate steps to fairly investigate and respond to
relating to this Policy. No such steps were taken. Instead, Shepherd was wrongly
attacked by the members ofthe administration, until public and alumni outcry forced
38. Following this meeting being publicized, Maclatchy was interviewed on The
Agenda by Steven Paikin, the same show which the clip of the debate between Dr.
Peterson and Matte was taken from. She was repeatedly asked by Paikin whether
Shepherd had done anything wrong by showing this clip from his earlier show.
Maclatchy effectively defended the conduct of Rambukkana, Joel and Pimlott. She
refused to acknowledge that Shepherd had not acted improperly, despite Paikin's
39. Shepherd had the foresight to tape her inquisition when it began and, after outrage
from the public and alumni erupted, the President of the University, Deborah
he continued to lie, still insisting that there had been a Complaint and that he had
40. It was only when public and alumni outrage inexorably grew that Maclatchy was
ultimately forced to admit that'\rhat happened to Ms. Shepherd in the meeting was
shameful and that the material she showed was entirely appropriate." This was only
after an Investigator found that there had never been any Complaint, formal or
informal, and that Rambukkana, Pimlott's and Joel's statements to the contrary were
4t. The University admitted in this statement from its President that this meeting never
should have happened at all. No formal Complaint, nor even an informal concern
relative to University policy, had been registered as to the screening of the video.
The President, only when besieged, acknowledged that these erors in judgment
the roles and responsibilities of staff and faculty were ignored or not understood,
that procedures on how to apply University policies and under what circumstances
were not followed and that institutional failure allowed this to happen. The
President noted that, as there was institutional failure, the responsibility ultimately
started and ended with her. She further acknowledged that Ms. Shepherd was
Shepherd was involved in absolutely no wrongdoing and publicly stated that the
University was taking action to ensure that this did not occur again, a claim that was
and remains entirely false. Shepherd has never received redress of any kind nor has
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she been consulted about the input that this treatment has had on her and her career
prospects. Instead, she was subjected to continuing abuse and atoxic climate from
42. In Maclatchy's apology on November 21, 2017 , she states that "supports were in
place to support student involvement in a situation who are targeted with extreme
vitriol through the situation". Yet she and the University offered Shepherd no such
support.
sifuation was targeted with extreme vitriol, she showed the same and equal concern
44. The President also acknowledged that the rationale for invoking the Gender and
Sexual Violence Policy did not exist, that it was misapplied and that this was a
45. Maclatchy claimed that "Laurier is committed to the abiding principles of freedom
that goal.
stated, "While I still cannot discuss the sfudent concerns raised about the tutorial..."
But no student concern had even been raised about the tutorial prior to his and his
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panel of 3 people would be an intimidating situation for Shepherd and would not
47. Rambukkana's apology claimed that he "did not do enough to try to support her
(Shepherd)" when he did absolutely nothing at all, but instead, attacked her.
48. Following the public outcry, the next time Shepherd met with her students, the Chair
of1bred Shepherd's students, but not Shepherd, emotional support, suggesting that
they would be welcome to go to the Campus Wellness Centre. He sat the back of
the room for the entire tutorial, effectively shutting down any discussion on the issue
49. Urquhart proceeded, on behalf of the University, to publicly insult Shepherd. When
asked hy email by Macl-ean's Magazine why he appeared in her class on that day,
o'I
he responded assumed she recorded it, why not ask her for the recording?" He
then sent Maclean's a second email "Sorry, you're a pro-l should have assumed
that you have already heard that particular recording" using his position of power
50. Professor Alicia Sliwinski, who Shepherd was taking a Masters course frorn, asked,
in fiont of the class, for Shepherd to put away her laptop and then said in fiont of
other Masters students that she gave this instruction because she did not want to be
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recorded, even when Shepherd assured her that she was not recording the class,
51. Following these events, Rambukkana's course ended and Shepherd was assigned to
Communication who had publicly taken a negative position against Shepherd prior
52. Before that semester even started, Nicholson had signed an open letter supporting
Pimlott and Rambukkana. This made the University assigning Shepherd to her
53. On three occasions during their relatively brief dealings, Nicholson, without
provocation, harassed and abused Shepherd, and deliberately created difficulty for
her.
54. From the outset of their meeting, Nicholson told Shepherd that it was her "academic
freedom"o and that no one is permitted to make the University look bad implying
55. On the second occasion, she sent out a course syllabus with a territorial
acknowledgement i.e. a reference to the aboriginal tribe which had once been on the
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land which Wilfrid Laurier was on. Shepherd, considering this irrelevant to the
syllabus and a ludicrous act of political correctness and virtue signaling, cut out that
part of the note and tweeted it, noting that such acknowledgements were now even
Teaching Assistants, that she delete her tweet. When Shepherd protested that all
she was tweeting was the University logo with the course name and territorial
acknowledgement, Nicholson threatened to take her to the Dean if she did not
remove it. Nicholson also absurdly claimed that this territorial acknowledgement
was her intellectual property. She proceeded to complain to the Dean about
The Dean informed Nicholson that the acknowledgement was not her intellectual
property and called an urgent meeting with the two departments which Shepherd
was associated with, the Communication Studies and the Cultural Analysis and
Social Theory Departments, at least in part, to discuss these issues. It was clear that,
if Shepherd had tweeted positively about the land acknowledgement, she would not
56. T'he third occasion was in March, 2018 when Shepherd needed to reschedule her
last class of the year and utilized polling software with a link to available alternate
days for her class to fill out their available alternate dates. When Shepherd found
times that all of her students were available to meet, she emailed Nicholson to seek
her approval for the new dates. Nicholson reprimanded her copying two Deans,
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claiming falsely that Shepherd had moved these classes without Nicholson's
consent in advance, even though the letter was just such a request and the request
Nicholson that she never had any intention of changing the date without Nicholson's
approval, which was why her letter explicitly requested that approval, Nicholson
cancelled Shepherd's tutorial entirely. This was despite the fact that alternate dates
were available for Shepherd and her students to attend. Nicholson instructed
which were largely coincident with dates which Shepherd and her students had
aranged. Since this was to have been Shepherd's last class, she never saw her
students again.
57. Ethan Jackson, a Trans Gender Activist, who has attacked Shepherd throughout the
Complaint against her which, even after Ms. Shepherd had completed her course
work at the University, so she would not see Jackson again, the University
vexatious, bad faith and frivolous allegations which, pursuant to the applicable
58. Jackson had an online crowd funding page seeking a sex change operation which
was initially denied because of his mental health issues. Additionally, Jackson was
banned from the University of Waterloo Campus in 2013 for protesting and de-
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(a) She was on her telephone during one class and purportedly disengaged from
(b) Ms. Shepherd had made 4 tweets with screenshots from Jackson's
(c) Shepherd responded to Jackson walking into the printing room and angrily
ordering her to leave the room and cease using the Communieations
(d) When Shepherd and 2 others were putting up posters tor a Laurier Society
for Open Enquiry meeting, he claimed that they had followed him and his
colleague as they were walking around the halls and that Shepherd's posters
Complaint to anyone.
61. The Complaint of Jackson rvas made maliciously after classes were over for the year
at a time when he and Shepherd would not ever be interacting again since Shepherd
62. Despite Jackson's Complaint being inherently self-contradictory and ludicrous, the
63. The attacks on Shepherd have rendered her unemployable in academia resulting in
her abandoning her previous ambitions of obtaining her Ph.D. or even teaching at a
64. Shepherd has suffered nervous shock as a result of the conduct of the Defendants
which wa-s the foreseeable and intended result. In the alternative, it was the
reasonably foreseeable outcome of their conduct and the Defendants were negligent
65. The plaintiff proposes that the trial of this action be held at the Waterloo Region Superior
JUN 1 7. 2818
Date: LEVITT LLP
130 Adelaide Street West,
Suite 801, PO Box 89
Toronto, ON M5H 3P5
Defendant
ONTARIO
SUPERIOR COURT OF JUSTICE
Proceeding cornmenced at KITCHENER
STATEMENT OF CLATM
LBvrrr LLP
130 Adelaide Street West
Suite 801, P.O. Box 89
Toronto, ON, M5H 3P5