A judge has recently decided that the legal dispute between the Philadelphia Art Museum and its former director, Sasha Suda, will proceed through arbitration instead of a jury trial. This ruling comes after Suda's dismissal in November and her subsequent civil suit. The court cited Suda's employment contract, which specifies arbitration as the method for resolving disputes. Suda's legal representation expressed disappointment, suggesting the museum's preference for arbitration was an attempt to conceal its actions, but affirmed their commitment to holding the institution accountable regardless of the forum.
The museum, in its public statements, indicated that arbitration would be the most efficient use of resources for all involved, including the judicial system. Suda's termination email from the museum cited 'for cause' without providing specific details. This dismissal occurred shortly after an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer highlighted the museum's controversial rebranding from 'Philadelphia Museum of Art' to 'Philadelphia Art Museum,' a change reportedly made without the full knowledge of all board members. The potential connection between the rebranding controversy and Suda's termination remains unclear.
Following her dismissal, Suda filed a lawsuit alleging that board members accused her of misusing funds for personal gain, with the museum even leveling accusations of theft against her. Suda's suit characterizes the museum's investigation into these matters as a 'sham.' The investigation reportedly scrutinized Suda's salary, which was substantial, positioning her among the highest-paid leaders in the nation. Her attorney asserted that a select group of trustees orchestrated a deceptive investigation to justify her termination, implying Suda was advocating for a museum that served the community rather than the personal interests of a few trustees.
In an interview, Suda also revealed that prior to her official start, the board had attempted to remove the 'CEO' part of her title. Less than a month after Suda's departure, Daniel H. Weiss, formerly of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, was appointed as the new director and CEO of the Philadelphia Art Museum. The museum announced that Weiss would provide stability and guidance for the institution until at least 2028. This series of events underscores a period of significant internal upheaval and leadership transition within the prominent art institution.
The legal battle between the Philadelphia Art Museum and its former director, Sasha Suda, is now set for arbitration, a decision that has drawn criticism from Suda's legal team. They argue that the museum prefers a private process to obscure its allegedly unlawful actions, while the museum maintains that arbitration is the most efficient resolution. This development is the latest in a series of events following Suda's 'for cause' dismissal, which she contends was based on a fabricated investigation into her conduct and salary, further complicated by a controversial rebranding initiative and the subsequent appointment of a new director.