Charter School loses appeal over $535K Verdict

[James48]

Linden Charter Academy Loses Appeal Over $535K Verdict


10/30/14 - The Michigan appeals court won't upset a $535,000 verdict for a teacher who said he was illegally fired for making a racial comment at an area charter school. During an exchange about desks, Craig Hecht told another staffer at Linden Charter Academy that white tables were better and "brown should burn." There was no dispute that Hecht made the racial comment but his lawyer said he quickly apologized to a black teacher's aide who heard him. Hecht, who is white, worked at Linden Charter Academy for more than eight years until he was fired in November 2009. Hecht sued, saying black staff at the school had made racial jokes but were never punished like him. The appeals court agreed there was evidence that Hecht was treated differently. In dissent, Judge Kurtis Wilder says Hecht wasn't treated differently because there were no complaints about comments made by black employees.

The school is run by National Heritage Academies, which at the time said it was disappointed by the verdict. (JM)

LinK: http://whmi.com/news/article/21183