By Adam Pagnucco.
Back in October, an MCPS teacher known as Jane Doe filed a sexual discrimination lawsuit against MCPS and former Principal Joel Beidleman, alleging conduct similar to the findings of an August 2023 Washington Post article and a November inspector general investigation. Yesterday, I reported that a circuit court judge noted that the case was about to settle. Today, I spoke with the plaintiff’s attorney who told me that a settlement had been reached.
Rockville attorney Jerry W. Hyatt, who has represented Jane Doe (and other past plaintiffs against MCPS) confirmed that the defendants have settled with Doe and agreed to pay her $300,000. Hyatt told me:
My client is happy to reach a settlement agreement with the Defendants in this litigation. She is relieved to come to a resolution and believes that the settlement recognizes the hardships she was forced to endure over multiple years. She feels vindicated by the terms of the settlement. She hopes that the new changes in policy recently enacted by MCPS to strengthen the investigation of misconduct claims involving supervisors will prevent future teachers and staff from having to suffer what she went through.
Furthermore, Hyatt commented:
Adam, this is my third litigation against MCPS in 3 years. Over that time, I have observed and realized that, while MCPS is viewed as a large corporate entity, it is run by individuals. Like any corporate entity, some individuals have egos and agendas. Administrators at central office and at the school level have seemingly grown accustomed to having their decisions unchallenged. This can lead and has led to reckless decisions being made by a few leaders. As long as administrators are permitted to have unchecked power, I fear that reckless decisions will continue to be made and I will continue to be busy.
Doe’s allegations involve matters that no employee of any workplace should have to endure, so her compensation is understandable. At the same time, it is a terrible look for MCPS to be paying out legal settlements on issues that could have been more easily (and cheaply) resolved internally while school system leaders contemplate layoffs.
I will be filing a Maryland Public Information Act request to obtain information on MCPS’s costs in this lawsuit, including court costs and any fees paid to lawyers for MCPS or Beidleman.