PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Sasha Suda, the former head of the Philadelphia Art Museum, is suing the institution over her firing after she was ousted last week.
After serving only three years of her five-year contract, Suda was fired on Nov. 4 from her role as director and CEO of the recently rebranded museum.
The lawsuit says Suda was the victim of breach of contract, unfair treatment and abuse. She claims she was not given a chance to defend herself during a “sham investigation” that “reached false conclusions.”
The suit, filed on Monday in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, says the museum “engaged in a malicious campaign of retaliation, disparagement and humiliation.” She alleges she was falsely portrayed as “misusing museum funds for personal gain.”
She has also claimed that the premature termination leaves her without a source of income — and as a Canadian national, may leave her unqualified for a green card.
“Mrs. Suda fought for and believed in a museum that would serve Philadelphia not the egos of a handful of trustees,” her attorney, Luke Nikas of Quinn Emanuel, said in a statement to KYW Newsradio. “She is proud of her work and looks forward to presenting the truth.”
The museum has said Suda was dismissed for cause, and these claims are “without merit.”
Suda is seeking a jury trial and two years’ severance pay and damages.
KYW Newsradio's Shara Dae Howard contributed to this story.