Former CFO of New York Museum Alleges Wrongful Termination Over Director’s Expenses
Former CFO of the Museum of Arts and Design (Mad) in New York Files Lawsuit Against Museum Alleging Retaliation
The former chief financial officer of the Museum of Arts and Design (Mad) in New York has filed a lawsuit against the museum, claiming she was fired after reporting alleged misconduct by the museum’s director. The lawsuit accuses the museum of retaliation and failing to have a compliant whistleblower policy.
Denise Lewis, who worked at the museum from 2017 until her firing in January of this year, alleges that the museum’s director, Timothy Rodgers, attempted to use the institution’s funds to pay for personal expenses during a vacation in Mexico. After raising concerns with other leaders and board members at the museum, Rodgers allegedly pressured Lewis to resign and, when she refused, fired her.
The lawsuit also details allegations of Rodgers seeking reimbursement for personal expenses related to a vacation he took in 2023 and moving expenses for his second home in Connecticut. Lewis claims that the museum provided preferential treatment to Rodgers, including paying for his husband’s healthcare coverage, which was not offered to other employees. The lawsuit also alleges that the museum failed to have an adequate whistleblower policy in place as required by New York law.
Lewis is seeking damages for lost earnings and alleges that the museum retaliated against her by not providing severance pay after her firing. Rodgers is not named as a party in the lawsuit.
The museum has denied the allegations, stating that they look forward to presenting their case in court. Rodgers, who has been the director of Mad since 2021, has faced previous turnover at the museum. He has stated his commitment to earning the trust of the staff and being fair and consistent in his leadership.
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Elara Voss, graduated from the Royal College of Art in London with a Master’s in Fine Art. She specializes in contemporary sculpture and installation art, exploring themes of nature and human interaction. Elara’s works have been featured in several group exhibitions across Europe, and she is currently working on her first solo show.