An eighth-grade science teacher has sued claiming actions by the school board, the superintendent and the principal were "malicious, fraudulent and oppressive and committed with an improper and evil motive."
For background, read Ohio Teacher Ordered to Remove Bible From Classroom
UPDATE 4/12/11: The Rutherford Institute joins the escalating case
UPDATE 1/21/10: New York Times reports case finally concluding soon
-- From "Science teacher facing dismissal sues district" by John Futty, The Columbus Dispatch 6/11/09
John Freshwater . . . is suing the Mount Vernon City [Ohio] School District, saying it violated his constitutional and civil rights.
The lawsuit, seeking $500,000 in compensatory damages and $500,000 in punitive damages, was filed this week in U.S. District Court in Columbus.
The board announced last June that it intended to fire Freshwater for preaching his Christian beliefs about how the world began, discrediting evolution and deviating from the required science curriculum. An investigation initiated by the board found that Freshwater used a high-voltage lab tool to burn crosses into the arms of students and that he told them gays were sinners.
"We are asserting that the report is not complete, is not accurate and is downright defamatory and inflammatory," R. Kelly Hamilton, Freshwater's Grove City-based attorney, said yesterday.
The controversy became public after he refused to remove a Bible from his desk.
To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.
