Fired Lottery Executive Sues to Win Back Job

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A former senior executive at the Minnesota State Lottery who was fired amid a bout with alcohol abuse is suing her ex-boss and the state on claims she was discriminated against because of her gender and her chemical dependency.

Johnene Canfield filed a lawsuit Friday in Ramsey County District Court that seeks reinstatement to the $100,000-a-year assistant lottery director post and unspecified damages.

She was put on leave in December following her arrest in a suspected drunken driving crash. Canfield ultimately was terminated as a state employee in July.

Canfield argues her job performance didn't suffer because of her alcoholism and that Lottery Director Ed Van Petten "condoned and encouraged" her to drink with him when they traveled together to conferences.

Van Petten and other state officials declined comment.