MEDFORD, Ore. – Two educators in Oregon, represented by Alliance Defending Freedom and Pacific Justice Institute attorneys, reached a favorable settlement with a school district that violated their free speech, religious freedom, and equal protection rights. As part of the settlement, Grants Pass School District agreed to pay $650,000 in damages and attorneys’ fees, issue a public statement acknowledging that the educators’ wrongful termination fell short of its standards and responsibilities, provide positive letters of recommendation for both teachers, revise the district’s policy to comply with the First Amendment, and remove negative references from their personnel files.
Grants Pass School District 7 officials punished Rachel Sager (formerly Damiano) and Katie Medart for speaking about gender identity education policy. The educators filed the lawsuit in 2021 when officials suspended and then terminated them for voicing their opinions about local, state, and national policy. In June, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled in the educators’ favor by partially vacating the lower court’s decision and remanding the case for trial.
Full news release, quotes, and related media resources available at the following link:
https://adfmedia.org/case/
Case Name: Damiano v. Grants Pass School District 7
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.