[blindkid] Washington County jury awards former Northwest Regional ESD teacher $970, 000 in retaliation claim

[Allisa Hawkins]

Washington County jury awards former Northwest Regional ESD teacher $970,000
in retaliation claim

Published: Thursday, August 02, 2012, 11:38 AM     Updated: Thursday, August
02, 2012, 11:38 AM

By Wendy Owen, The Oregonian 



HILLSBORO -- A Washington County jury awarded a former special education
teacher nearly $1 million late Wednesday night after determining the
Northwest Regional ESD fired him in retaliation for advocating for blind and
visually impaired students. 

Michael D. Wright, who taught blind and visually impaired students during
the 2009-10 school year, questioned the use of $3 million in state funds the
ESD was expected to use for the kids, sought modern Braille equipment,
additional staff and other resources for the students.  

The ESD claimed Wright failed to renew his teaching license before the start
of school despite repeated reminders and a warning that he would lose his
job. 

Wright, 43, said he expected the verdict. 

"I believed they would see the truth," he said. "The other side had a lot of
bureaucracy. What I had were the stories from the children."  

The ESD released a statement Thursday morning, saying it was surprised by
the verdict. 

"NWRESD takes concerns people raise about issues seriously and believes that
those did not play any role at all in the employment decision at issue." 

The ESD's attorney, Bruce White, said the district may appeal. 

The jury spent about three and a half hours in deliberations Wednesday night
before awarding Wright $320,000 in economic and $650,000 in non-economic
damages for violating his First Amendment rights of free speech, the
Rehabilitation Act and the Whistleblower Protection Act. 

Visit  <http://Oregonlive.com/hillsboro> Oregonlive.com/hillsboro for
updates. 

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