Former Liberty High School principal sues board in federal court (Warrenton, VA)

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http://www.citizenet.com/archive/062801/education.html

Former LHS principal sues board in federal court

Attorney Cook talks with client Trudy man during her grievance

hearing in March. (photo)

By Lawrence Emerson

Staff Writer

As expected, former Liberty High School Principal Trudy K. man this

week took her grievance to federal court.

C. Cook, the ousted principal's attorney, filed a lawsuit against the

school board Monday in the U.S. District Court in andria.

The suit also names all five board members and Superintendent Dallas M.

as defendants.

After an unprecedented public grievance hearing that ran for five nights,

the board on March 20 unanimously upheld Dr. 's decision to remove

the principal from LHS. He reassigned Dr. man to a hastily-created

central office job.

In her lawsuit, Dr. man charges the school board and superintendent:

* Retaliated when she wrote memos and spoke critically of the response to

mold infestation at the school.

She alleges denial of her constitutional right to speak freely about those

issues.

* Retaliated after she filed a gender discrimination complaint against Dr.

last fall.

She alleges the superintendent told her - " a female and not from Fauquier

County " - to stop complaining about health risks at Liberty.

After an investigation last fall, the school board ruled that Dr.

had demonstrated no gender bias in his dealing with the principal.

* Denied her due process in handling the grievance.

She contends: " By announcing publicly that he was placing Dr. man on

administrative leave, Dr. implied Dr. man was guilty of sexual

or criminal misconduct, causing grave and permanent damage to her

professional and personal reputation. "

The school board's conduct of the grievance hearing " was neither fair nor

impartial, " Dr. man also alleges.

* " Intentional infliction of emotional distress. "

She charges: The board " conducted a bogus grievance hearing and permitted to

be introduced into evidence irrelevant and scandalous information, in an

effort to cause severe emotional distress to Dr. man.

" Dr. used the advent of the public hearing . . . to seek

introduction of irrelevant and scandalous material in an effort to cause

severe emotional distress to Dr. man. "

School board Chairman Broni Lambelet (Marshall District) said Wednesday she

had not seen the complaint that Mr. Cook filed in federal court.

" It was certainly something that was a possibility; I can't say I'm

surprised, " Mr. Lambelet added. " I'm disappointed it has to go this way. "

The defendants will have 20 days to file their response with the court.

The school board and its insurance company will retain a law firm

" experienced with the federal court and the specifics of this type of case, "

Mrs. Lambelet added.

School Board Attorney Emmetri Beane- provided counsel during the

grievance hearing.

" We'll just put it in the hands of a jury, " Mr. Cook said of Dr. man's

case.

He unsuccessfully has sought to negotiate a settlement with the school

board.

Mrs. Lambelet said the board never " got clarity " on the nature of his

request.

In her lawsuit, Dr. man seeks re-instatement as Liberty's principal,

expungement of administrative leave and reprimand from her personnel record,

lost wages and benefits, " a positive employment reference, " legal fees and

unspecified payment for damages.

If the case moves ahead, Dr. man's lawyer by fall could begin taking

depositions from school board members.

That would represent a major change in the case. During the grievance

process, board members said nothing about their dealings with Dr.

and Dr. man.

If the court accepts the case, it probably would move quickly. Lawyers call

the federal court in andria " the rocket docket, " because of the pace at

which judges move cases.

Mr. Cook predicted a trial could start by January.

If that happens, the school board's insurance company probably will have to

pay for Dr. to travel from suburban Nashville, where he starts a new

job July 1.

The same day, Dr. man will become jobless. She has continued to collect

her $80,500-a-year annual salary and benefits since Jan. 19, when the

superintendent placed her on administrative leave.