Circumstances of John Gordon Stackhouse Jr.’s departure from former employer questioned by Crandall University
A New Brunswick court has ruled that a former employee of Crandall University must disclose documents related to his departure from a previous employer, finding the information directly relevant to claims of wrongful dismissal and defamation.
Justice Christa Bourque of the Court of King's Bench has ordered John Gordon Stackhouse Jr. to produce all documents relating to his leave of absence and departure from Regent College, where he was allegedly under investigation when he applied to Crandall University.
The ruling arises from a motion brought by Crandall University in an action commenced by Stackhouse and his wife Sarah-Jane Britton alleging wrongful dismissal and defamation.
When silence during hiring becomes an issue
Stackhouse began working at Crandall University in 2015 after leaving Regent College. According to Crandall's Statement of Particulars, during the interview process, he did not disclose that he was on a forced leave of absence from Regent College due to complaints about his behaviour: “He also assured the interviewing committee that there were no issues with his former employer."
An external investigation by Joël Michaud for Crandall later found it "more likely than not that, directly or by omission,” that Stackhouse "deliberately misled the interviewing committee of Crandall." The investigator determined that at the time of application, Stackhouse was on forced leave from Regent College arising from complaints about his conduct.
During the investigation, when asked directly whether he had been subject to a sexual harassment complaint at Regent, Stackhouse declined to answer, stating, "I do not see how it's in my interest to answer the question."
The investigator also concluded it was "more likely than not that there were complaints by students, or at least one complaint from a student, at the previous institution alleging misconduct on the part of the faculty member which contributed to the end of his employment there."
Termination and just cause defence
Crandall terminated Stackhouse for cause on November 22, 2023, based on the findings of Michaud, as set out in the Confidential Report dated November 15, 2023. While the termination letter specifically cited findings that he "engaged in behaviour that constitutes sexual harassment of a female member of Crandall University," it also referenced these findings "among other things."
The university argued this phrase incorporated all findings in the Michaud Report, including the alleged misrepresentation about his Regent College employment. Crandall's Amended Statement of Defence lists as grounds for just cause: "Deliberately misleading or withholding information when hired by Crandall about the circumstances of his departure from his former employment with Regent College."
Stackhouse argued that the university was barred from relying on any allegation of misrepresentation as a defence because the termination letter only cited sexual harassment. He and his wife maintained they had already produced the only relevant documents in their possession—a settlement agreement and release from Regent College.
Relevance standard requires disclosure
Justice Bourque ordered them to produce all documents relating to Stackhouse's leave of absence and departure from Regent College and the circumstances leading up to his leave and departure, including documents no longer in their possession and identifying individuals who may possess relevant documents. The court found the documents met the "semblance of relevancy" threshold required for discovery.
Stackhouse and Britton have also advanced a defamation claim alleging Crandall portrayed Stackhouse as a "recalcitrant and repeat offender, having been previously terminated for the same misconduct at another school." Crandall's defence relies on proving the truth of those statements, making the Regent College circumstances central to the case.
The court dismissed Crandall's motion to compel Stackhouse to answer specific discovery questions in advance, finding it premature. Stackhouse and Britton were ordered to pay costs of $750 and produce the further and better Affidavit of Documents before the scheduled Examination for Discovery on November 24 to 26, 2025.
