Humane Society Board Sues Former Employees,
Financial Audit of Closed Organization Ongoing
by Jeremy Morrison, Inweekly
Following a mass walkout amidst allegations of financial mismanagement, the Pensacola Humane Society’s Board of Directors has filed a lawsuit against several former employees.
The lawsuit essentially charges that accusations made and actions taken by former employees caused reputational and financial damage to the organization. In mid-December, a group of staff and volunteers — under the banner We The Organization — released an open letter accusing the board of financial mismanagement and making a number of request, including the removal of board president Gerald Adcox.
“The board agreed to move forward with the filing of a complaint due to the numerous wrongful attacks in the press and social media postings by the named defendants as well as a plethora of other reasons that are detailed in the Complaint,” Adcox told Inweekly via email Feb. 2.
The Pensacola Humane Society is currently shut down. However, the PNJ reports this morning that board member Blake White will assume an executive position in mid-February and reopen the facility. PHS also plans to retain the services of a national expert in animal sheltering to help the nonprofit, according to a statement sent to daily newspaper.
Named in the PHS board’s lawsuit are six former employees, all of which no longer work for the organization. Among them is Manda Moore-Joseph, the organization’s former development director and interim executive director and the person spearheading the effort to bring issues regarding financial mismanagement forward.
In regards to the board’s lawsuit, Moore-Joseph said this week that she felt comfortable with her position.
“In regards to the lawsuit against former staff members and myself, the burden of proof rests on the plaintiff,” the former interim director relayed in an email.
In addition to Moore-Joseph, the board’s suit names Jessica Gehres, former bookkeeper, Raina Townson, former volunteer coordinator, Jessica Fischer, former communication and marketing director, Melissa Garret, former director of animal care, and Alysia Martinez, former director of shelter operations and foster coordinator.
Following the release of We The Organization’s open letter — outlining accusations and demands — PHS’s board engaged accounting firm Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund to conduct a financial audit in order to assess claims of financial mismanagement. That audit is ongoing.
The board also brought aboard Tallahassee attorney Linda Edwards to speak with staff and investigate concerns outlined by We The Organization. While the lawsuit states that no employee responded to the attorney’s request to meet, Moore-Joseph said that she was never contacted.
“I was never contacted by Linda Edwards,” Moore-Joseph told Inweekly.
In addition to financial damages, the PHS board’s suit against its former employees seeks a temporary injunction that would require a public apology and a retraction of false statements.
As the PHS board tends to this lawsuit, donors to the humane society — providing funds for things such as a spay and neuter program or vaccinations — are waiting to find out where their money went. Currently, no lawsuits have been filed against PHS.
“None,” reported Adcox.
Here is the PHS lawsuit: Humane Society Complaint. The exhibits are copies of the PHS Bylaws, WeTHeOrganization memo, news articles and social media posts. No financial statements.