[nfbwatlk] FW: [Blindtlk] Fwd: [blindkid] Washington County jury awards former Northwest Regional ESD teacher $970, 000 in retaliation claim

[Mike Freeman]

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of David Andrews
Sent: Friday, August 03, 2012 7:55 PM
To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
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.
>
>Description:
>cid:367E32AD-9489-4A25-8DAE-C81E6FC4499F at viewplus.orgDescription:
>cid:CF487E3D-5621-406E-A002-3DC0FD3006F4 at viewplus.orgDescription:
>cid:F2D4F308-FEA4-49B2-9A60-DD41083A22F0 at viewplus.org
>
>Description: cid:EBC1B4DD-C4FE-4E34-8117-7B45E8E0D931 at viewplus.org
>
>
>Allisa Hawkins
>
>   |
>
>Sales & Marketing
>
>|
>
>Description: Description: ViewPlus
>
>
>541.754.4002 x 222
>
>   |
>
>  <http://www.viewplus.com/> www.viewplus.com
>
>
>
>   _____
>
>PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL: This message and any files transmitted with it
>may be proprietary and are intended solely for the use of the individual to
>whom they are addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, any use,
>copying, disclosure, dissemination or distribution is strictly prohibited;
>please notify the sender and delete the message. ViewPlus Technologies,
Inc.
>accepts no liability for damage of any kind resulting from this email.
>
>


_______________________________________________
blindtlk mailing list
blindtlk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
blindtlk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/k7uij%40panix.com