MARION COUNTY, Fla.,None — Marion County public school principal Don Raymond filed a lawsuit and sat through four days of trial, but he doesn’t have to pay his attorney. The school district is taking care of the bills.
"Well, taxpayers should be upset about it, because it’s their money being spent," said school board member Jackie Porter
Porter says the district should not be covering the cost of Raymond’s personal civil suit against Carolyn Torrey, the mother of one of his former students.
"But this is a private civil lawsuit. Should he not pay his own legal bills?" WFTV reporter Berndt Petersen asked Marion County School Superintendent Jim Yancey.
“No,” said Yancey.
Yancey says the dispute dates back to one day in 2005. Torrey’s son, then in fourth grade, was not allowed to keep a bottle of water on his desk. The boy, now 16, testified the hot classroom caused nose bleeds and headaches. His mother fired off an email criticizing Raymond, who promptly took corrective action, according to Yancey.
"And yet, the constant harassment continues, and the defamation of character continues," said Yancey.
After hundreds of Torrey emails and records requests over the last several years a decision was made to sue her.
Porter says the superintendent has the authority to spend up to $50,000 without the school board’s approval. A district spokesman says the legal bill currently stands at $19,000.
Porter believes it will be a lot more than that. She says Raymond should have been able to take the heat.
"Part of a principal’s responsibility is to deal with parents," said Porter.
The jury could get the case Friday.
The principal’s attorney says they are looking for a monetary award, but won’t say how much.
WFTV
