JUST IN: LAUSD slapped with $1 billion lawsuit to end teacher jails
Following up on a months-long threat, high-profile attorneyMark Geragos today slapped LA Unified with a class actionlawsuit, calling for an end to the practice of“teacher jails” and asking for more than $1 billion in damages.
The suit was filed in state superior court on behalf of Rafe Esquith, a well-known teacher who was dismissed in April, as well as thousands of other unnamed teachers who have been placed in “jail” by the district in recent years. Calling LAUSD “a criminal cartel,” the suit charges the district with violations of due process, age discrimination, whistleblower retaliation and wrongful discharge — all in a scheme to remove older teachers whose salaries and benefits make them more expensive to retain.
Among the defendants named are Superintendent Ramon Cortines and his yet-to-be-chosen successor. Cortines intends to step down in December.
At his downtown office only a few blocks from LAUSD headquarters, Geragos accused the district of engaging in “a pattern and practice of the LA Unified school district basically divesting teachers of their benefits once they reach a certain age. The method by which they do this is they gin up false charges, they make false accusations.”
“I’m calling for the complete shutdown of LAUSD,” Geragos added. “I think LAUSD is a completely corrupt organization. They have consigliere lawyers.”
A spokeswoman said the district “has not reviewed the lawsuit and therefore has no comment at this time.”
This legal action comes a day after the Los Angeles Times disclosed that the school JUST IN: LAUSD slapped with $1 billion lawsuit to end teacher jails - LA School Report: