Jury rules in favor of former Jefferson City teacher
UPDATE: Karen Ray has been awarded $225,000 in punitive damages.
“I’m just happy for the win,” Ray said. “I believe it is a win for the Jefferson City teachers, many of whom have contacted me saying that they are still bullied. The money may not send the message we wanted, but they now know we are watching.”
ORIGINAL STORY, 10:00 p.m.: A jury has ruled in favor of a former journalism teacher.
Karen Ray sued the Jefferson City School District, saying she was forced out of her job.
ABC 17 News was in the Cole County courthouse when the jury made its decision to awardRay $24,000 in damages, but her lawyer is asking for $1 million.
Our crew is waiting to hear a verdict on the punitive damages.
Tuesday marked the seventh day of the jury trial for Karen Ray’s case against Jefferson City Public Schools.
Ray claimed she was forced out of her job through bullying, deceit and threats.
High School principal Jeff Dodson was named in the lawsuit.
Ray said school administrators wrongly discriminated against her on the basis of gender as well as age.
Ray’s former coworker Laura Cooper filed a similar lawsuit against the district which is scheduled to be heard in September.
