Leiting vs Fertile Update

Dozens of pages of depositions have been made publicly available in Angie Leiting’s lawsuit against the City of Fertile, Fair Meadow Nursing Home and former Fertile Mayor Dan Wilkens. As you may know, Leiting was forced to resign from her job as administrator of Fair Meadow in June of 2023.  Her lawsuit alleges the Fertile City Council violated Minnesota’s open meeting law by holding four closed meetings between January and June of 2023 to discuss Leiting’s job status.

A memo from the attorney for Fertile, Fair Meadow and Wilkens opposes Leiting’s claim for a summary judgment, saying Leiting resigned voluntarily rather than under pressure.  The State of Minnesota did award Leiting unemployment.  

Leiting’s attorney claims Leiting established a prima facie case of discrimination based on sex and age, pointing out that Wilkens removed the advisory board that supported her in running Fair Meadow.  The attorney adds the City purposefully hasn’t hired a replacement for Leiting, as a younger man has repeatedly asked to apply for the job, but was referred to a consulting firm that says there is no opening.  Her attorney adds the City caused intentional emotional distress by not allowing Leiting to visit her mother-in-law, who is a patient at Fair Meadow.

A hearing on motions for a summary judgment will be held June 5 in Crookston.