Former Philadelphia Museum Director Sues Over Alleged Wrongful Termination

PHILADELPHIA — The former head of the Philadelphia Museum of Art has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit, claiming she was ousted after clashing with a small group of board members.

Fired After Internal Conflict

Sasha Suda, who served as director and chief executive of the Philadelphia Art Museum (PAM), was dismissed on Nov. 4. In a lawsuit filed Monday in Pennsylvania state court, she accuses the museum of “breaches of contract, bad faith, unfair treatment and abuse.” Suda is requesting a jury trial and seeking two years’ severance pay along with additional damages.

Her complaint alleges that a “small, corrupt faction” within the board of trustees “actively worked to undermine” her by turning staff and other board members against her. According to the lawsuit, the group sought to derail the museum’s mission and remove her from leadership.

Museum Denies Allegations

The museum declined to comment to The New York Times and later told The Art Newspaper it considered the claims “without merit.” A spokesperson said the museum “will not be providing further comment at this time.”

Luke Nikas, an attorney with Quinn Emanuel representing Suda, said in a statement to The Art Newspaper that “a small cabal of trustees commissioned a sham investigation to create a pretext for Ms. Suda’s termination.” He added that Suda “believed in a museum that would serve Philadelphia and its people, not the egos of a handful of trustees.”

Claims of Board Misconduct

The lawsuit names former and current board chairs Ellen Caplan and Leslie Ann Miller, alleging they violated museum policies and Suda’s employment contract. It claims they interfered with hiring decisions reserved for Suda and failed to address staff complaints against another board member.

After an executive committee vote of confidence earlier this fall, which supported Suda by an eight-to-two margin, Caplan allegedly questioned a 3% cost-of-living raise in Suda’s salary—an increase tied to the union contract negotiated in 2022. The complaint says Caplan used this issue to “fabricate a false narrative” about Suda’s compensation.

The museum then commissioned a law firm to conduct a “forensic investigation” into Suda’s pay and expenses. Although the probe found no wrongdoing, it reportedly portrayed her as “financially irresponsible” and recommended that she resign. Another board vote soon followed, this time resulting in her termination.

Personal and Professional Fallout

Suda, a Canadian citizen, says the firing jeopardizes her ability to stay in the United States. Without an income, she could lose her Green Card eligibility, leaving her and her family only 60 days to depart the country.

The complaint also highlights Suda’s accomplishments, noting she exceeded fundraising targets, raising $16.7 million in fiscal year 2025—nearly $800,000 above goal—and doubled capital funding. She also expanded school visits from 8,000 in 2021 to 38,000 in the 2023–24 school year and secured a verbal commitment for a $25 million gift toward a new education center shortly before her dismissal.

A Museum in Transition

Suda joined the Philadelphia Art Museum after serving as director and CEO of the National Gallery of Canada. She took the helm at PAM during a period of upheaval. Her predecessor, Timothy Rub, resigned following allegations of workplace misconduct by a manager. Soon after Suda’s arrival, museum workers went on strike over stalled union contract negotiations—a strike that lasted three weeks.

Suda’s case underscores ongoing tension within one of Philadelphia’s most prominent cultural institutions, as questions of governance, accountability and leadership continue to unfold.