[nobe-l] Fwd: [blindkid] Washington County jury awards former Northwest Regional ESD teacher $970, 000 in retaliation claim

[David Andrews]

>
>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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