[Nfb-or] Fw: [Blindtlk] Fwd: [blindkid] Washington County jury awards former Northwest Regional ESD teacher $970, 000 in retaliation claim

[Jerry Hathaway]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Andrews" <dandrews at visi.com>
To: <david.andrews at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, August 03, 2012 7:55 PM
Subject: [Blindtlk] Fwd: [blindkid] Washington County jury awards former 
Northwest Regional ESD teacher $970, 000 in retaliation claim


>
>>
>>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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