Wood Buffalo councillor Allan Vinni is facing an unpaid wages lawsuit from an employee who was laid off from his law firm. 33 year old Lianne Locke claims that she worked for the Allan Vinni Law Firm for the last 3 years, and that she was laid off from her position there in May 3 when the wildfire forced Fort McMurray to evacuate. Up until that point Locke says that she mostly handled family law cases for the firm. A statement of claim by Lianne was recently filed, claiming that she is owed $15,000 in unpaid wages by Vinni and that this amount was due on May 1. According to Locke “I have sent him emails and text messages and voicemails indicating he owed me money, and they haven’t been answered. Not getting paid during this time has only added to more financial stress. It’s not just that he owes me money; this was because of a complete lack of communication.”

In the unpaid wages lawsuit Locke also claims that the total she is owed by councillor Allan Vinni could end up far more than the $15,000, because she is owed 50% of any fees for work invoices sent out on April 30 which were less than $400,000, and that any fees over that amount belong solely to her. Lianna told a reporter “I don’t wish him anything bad. I just want him to speak to me and pay what we’re owed.” Councillor Vinni was unavailable for comment, and the charges against him have yet to be proven in court.