CPS responds to mistreatment lawsuit

The Columbia Public School District has responded to a mistreatment lawsuit that was filed in September.

ABC17 previously reported two Columbia high school assistant principals sued the district and the head of secondary education for alleged mistreatment and retaliation.

Rachel Henderson and Andrew McCarthy, a recently married couple who worked together for several years, filed separate lawsuits against Columbia Public Schools and Dr. Kevin Brown, vice superintendent of secondary schools. The discrimination lawsuits claim Brown punished the two after Henderson complained about Brown’s behavior in passing McCarthy up for a promotion and sending him to a different high school.

The lawsuit asks the Boone County court to award damages in favor of the couple. Andy Hirth, the couple’s attorney in their cases, said the two want to clear their names.

CPS denied most of the allegations made by McCarthy and asked the Boone County court system to not award him the relief sought.

According to the response, CPS believes McCarthy failed to use reasonable preventative measures or corrective opportunities to avoid harm.

CPS also said the actions they took were in good faith for legitimate and lawful business reasons.

For more on the lawsuit, click here.