Jennifer Edwards withdraws lawsuit against NSWMA, court orders her to pay

Ousted executive director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Jennifer Edwards, has withdrawn her court challenge against the board’s decision not to renew her employment contract.

The matter came up in the Supreme Court this morning, almost a week after she filed the lawsuit.

Edwards’ lawyer, Dameta Gayle, told high court judge, Sharon George, that her client was no longer pursuing the case.

She also indicated that a notice to discontinue the matter has been filed.

Meanwhile, the lawyer, representing the NSWMA board, Abe Dabdoub successfully made an application for legal costs.

Justice George awarded costs against Edwards, to be agreed or taxed.

After fire broke out at the Riverton City dump on March 11, a row developed between Edwards and the board chairman, Steve Ashley over her management of the public cleansing agency.

At that time, her contract, which expired in February was up for renewal.

But she contended that the decision to remove her was arbitrary, oppressive, unlawful and unreasonable.

Edwards argued in court documents that she had a legitimate expectation that in the absence of misconduct on her part or any reasonable grounds for termination, her contract would have been renewed.