FARGO (KFGO) – The Fargo Park District is responding to a federal lawsuit filed by its former executive director who claims board members created a hostile work environment and discriminated against him because of his age.
The Park District is denying Dave Leker’s accusations of discrimination, retaliation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Despite Leker’s claim that he received no significant disciplinary actions before being placed on a performance improvement plan in late 2022, the Park District says he was subject to a professional development focus after his 2021 performance review.
In his lawsuit, Leker says as tensions with the Park Board escalated, he discussed the possibility of early retirement and the board used that information as a pretext to accelerate his removal. The district says it had no knowledge of those discussions and therefore denies the allegation.
Leker also accused the board of belittling and demeaning him, calling his West Fargo home a “flop house” and pressuring him to sell it. The Park District denies that was the case.
Leker was 59 when the lawsuit was filed last month. He worked for the Park District for 22 years and served as executive director from approximately July 2019 until June 30, 2023.
The Park District is asking the court to dismiss the lawsuit, and award it for costs incurred because of it.
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