A Penticton youth soccer club has issued a formal apology to one of its ex-employees that it was accused of firing without cause, following the settlement of a civil lawsuit.

Pinnacles FC (PFC) published an apology last week to Jacquie Hertlein, the club's former technical director who sued in small claims court for breach of contract related to her dismissal from the role in 2023.

"The Board of Directors of the PFC would like to formally apologize to Jacquie Hertlein for the way in which she was treated both before and after her departure as the technical director," reads the apology, which the club says will be highlighted on its website for one week.

"We agree that Ms. Hertlein91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s departure was on a 'without cause' basis, that there was no after-acquired cause for termination, and confirm the action brought in relation to her departure has been settled."

Hertlein, who captained the Calgary-based Mount Royal University soccer team to a pair of provincials championships in the 1990s, started her tenure at the Penticton club in 2021.

Her civil lawsuit, filed last spring, alleged that she was terminated without cause in October 2023.

Details of the settlement were not disclosed.

In a statement released Dec. 5, Hertlein referenced a new board of directors at PFC that was behind the settlement and apology.

"I am grateful that the new board of directors were able to see the truth of the issues in dispute and both recognize and apologize for the injustices done to me, by one or two former board members, and the subsequent damage to my reputation," Hertlein's statement reads.

"This is a vindication of my character and integrity and I wish the PFC Board of Directors well as they steward the club in the right direction in support of youth soccer."