Four years on, both sides in a civil lawsuit initiated by a former Bank of Jackson Hole executive have asked a judge to rule in their favor and bring a contentious case to a close.

In the lawsuit filed in 9th District Court, former bank Chief Financial Officer John Freeze alleges that the bank violated its whistleblower policy when it fired him in 2019, a retaliatory action he believes stemmed from years of reports he made regarding high-ranking executives engaging in alleged financial misconduct. The suit includes events that occurred from 2014 through 2018 and claims that bank leaders received fraudulent loans, used bank credit cards for personal expenses and wrongfully terminated Freeze for reporting alleged violations.

The defendants, Bank of Jackson Hole and CEO Peter Lawton, denied that any policies were broken and are countersuing Freeze, writing that because Freeze stopped looking for work in September 2021 he should not be entitled to back pay or damages.

A mediation in February was unsuccessful, moving the case toward trial. Lawyers for both parties have filed for summary judgment, asking 9th District Judge Melissa Owens to either rule on the case or dismiss it outright. On Thursday the parties will be appearing in court for a conference to prepare for trial, if summary judgment is denied.

According to his complaint, Freeze worked for the bank — founded by Tulsa, Oklahoma, businessman Robert Biolchini — for six years, from February 2013 until August 2019. As...

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