Former executive sues Newfields for discrimination, defamation amid wrongful termination claims

The front entrance of Newfields is seen on March 1, 2024. (IBJ photo/Mickey Shuey)

A former executive at Newfields has filed a federal lawsuit against the art museum and gardens, alleging he experienced discrimination and retaliation before being terminated earlier this year.

Ernest Gause, who was hired as Newfields’ vice president of human resources in 2022, claims he was retaliated against after he repeatedly told CEOs things about discriminatory business practices within the organization. The complaint comes several months after Gause filed a case with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging he was wrongfully terminated on Jan. 7 and was subject to race- and age-based discrimination.

In a complaint filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Indiana, Gause alleges that, from the beginning of his time at Newfields, he was “regularly excluded from meetings and communications and his ideas and contributions were often ignored or dismissed,” and that this happened over the tenures of multiple CEOs.

At the time Gause was hired, Newfields Chief Financial Officer Jerry Wise was serving as interim CEO following the 2021 resignation of Charles Venable. Venable’s full-time replacement, Colette Pierce Burnette, left the museum abruptly and without explanation in November 2023. Michael Kubacki, a former Newfields board member and former chair of Lake City Bank, then served as interim CEO until Le Monte Booker, the current CEO, arrived in fall 2024.

Gause previously told IBJ that he received top ratings in his performance reviews, and that his responsibilities were expanded in 2024—at the time of his dismissal, Gause was the organization’s chief people, diversity and technology officer.

Despite his positive performance reviews, Gause said he was denied a financial bonus for more than a year while white colleagues at Newfields received theirs.

Gause said his standing at Newfields likely was hurt by his opposition to some of Burnette’s practices when she served as CEO, having filed an eight-page complaint with the organization’s board detailing Burnette’s “systematic targeting of staff.” He claimed that he raised concerns regarding technology infrastructure security, improper bonuses and employee theft. Each time, he said the CEO—either Burnette or Booker—dismissed his concerns. Gause said relationships with Burnette and Booker became increasingly strained with each red flag he raised about mismanagement of funds and the mishandling of contracts.

As part of his lawsuit, Gause also claims that, after his termination, a museum employee made false statements to an insurance company, defaming him and damaging his reputation. He also claims the museum’s actions against him violate the state’s whistleblower statute.

In a written statement shared with IBJ Thursday, a Newfields spokesperson said the end of Gause’s employment was “in no way related to discrimination including race, gender or age.”

Further, the museum said: “Newfields views his claims as retaliation for the termination of his employment and a wholly inappropriate attempt to damage the personal and professional reputations of Newfields leadership and the institution itself.”

Gause’s role at Newfields was created as part of a 2021 action plan focused on diversity, equity, inclusion and access. The action plan was created in response to intense scrutiny after the museum posted a job description in which it sought a candidate who could diversify its patrons while “maintaining the museum’s traditional, core, white art audience.”

Gause’s complaint was originally filed in the federal court last week, but an amended complaint was filed Wednesday.

In his complaint, Gause asks to be reinstated and seeks compensation for lost wages, punitive damages and attorney fees.

IBJ reporter Dave Lindquist contributed.