Canadian Casino Manager’s Controversial Death Leads to Legal Debate

Posted on: April 8, 2024, 11:55h. 

Last updated on: April 8, 2024, 12:32h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More
Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

A lawsuit brought by the family of a Canadian gaming property manager, after he died from a fight there, is erupting into a court battle over who is to blame for his demise.

Rodney Frenette, pictured above died in a casino fight. His death has led to a lawsuit. (Image: Connie Frenette via CBC)

Lawyers for Michael Glaspy, 51, of Riverview, New Brunswick, who allegedly struck the manager, Rodney Frenette, at Casino New Brunswick, say that Frenette is responsible for his own passing, the CBC reported last week.

The claims come after Frenette’s family filed a civil lawsuit seeking monetary damages from Glaspy.

The incident took place on March 4, 2023. On March 28, Frenette, 56, died at a local hospital.

He was the food and beverage manager at the Moncton, New Brunswick, gaming property.

Struck His Head

Glaspy had been drinking alcohol or other intoxicants before the assault, according to the lawsuit. As the situation became tense, Glaspy allegedly struck Frenette. The impact allegedly caused the manager to hit his head.

But Alison Menard, an attorney who is representing Glaspy, says her client isn’t to blame.

The deceased, Rodney Frenette, responded to and interfered in a security situation at the Casino New Brunswick, which was out of the realm and scope of his employment and training, thereby contributing to his own injuries and subsequent death,” Menard argued in a court document.

Instead of having security guards control the situation, the two men got into a “heated exchange,” Menard alleged.

More employees soon got involved.

The intervention of the bar staff caused the Defendant to fall forward, precipitating the backward fall of the alleged victim,” Menard further said in the document. “In the course of the fall, the alleged victim struck his head, causing serious injury to himself.”

She said allegations that Glaspy had martial arts and boxing training, did not take medication for “his violent tendencies,” and was visiting a casino when his “gambling habits were known to have caused him aggravation and anger” were inaccurate.

Menard wants the civil lawsuit dismissed against her client.

The attorney representing the victim’s family, Brian Murphy, declined to comment to the CBC.

Frenette’s surviving family members include his wife of 33 years and a daughter.

Manslaughter Charge

Glaspy also was charged criminally in the death. He’s facing a single count of manslaughter. The criminal case, separate from the lawsuit, is scheduled to start in 2025.

The casino is owned and operated by the Great Canadian Gaming Corporation. The casino has more than 600 slot machines, 20 table games, and a poker room. Casino New Brunswick also features a 126-room hotel.