Defamation claim against
Fayette schools dismissed
Circuit Judge James Ishmael dismissed former Booker T Washington Principal Peggy Petrilli's defamation claim against the Fayette County Schools ruling that the board did not publish attorney Brenda Allen's report, which accuses Petrilli of improperly holding students back a grade.
Petrilli denies the allegations and is suing the board for alleged racial discrimination.
The Herald-Leader and KSN&C had filed repeated open records requests over months to obtain a copy of the report once it became known that Allen had been assigned by Superintendent Stu Silberman to produce one. Publication is an indespensible element in proving defamation.
Petrilli denies the allegations and is suing the board for alleged racial discrimination.
The Herald-Leader and KSN&C had filed repeated open records requests over months to obtain a copy of the report once it became known that Allen had been assigned by Superintendent Stu Silberman to produce one. Publication is an indespensible element in proving defamation.
Golden previously claimed that the crux of his defamation argument was a now sealed e-mail that Allen sent Petrilli outlining topics she would investigate, and that the report was produced for the sole purpose of defaming Petrilli.
This from the Herald-Leader:
...Petrilli claims the report was a "hit job" intended to discredit her and any litigation she might file against the board. Petrilli is also suing the board for alleged racial discrimination...The board tells H-L it stands by the months-long investigation, one Petrilli requested.
...Last week, Golden filed affidavits from two former Booker T. staff members who claimed they were harassed in interviews by Allen.
Assessment coordinator Leigh McCauley claimed she was threatened with suspension if she did not "go along with their agendas." She also claimed that Allen did not understand testing data that she relied on for the report.
McCauley was one of the staff members named in Allen's report. She said that Allen gave her no opportunity to respond to the allegations.
Petrilli resigned after parents confronted Superintendant Stu Silberman with a long list of complaints in August 2007. She was principal at Booker T. from March 2005 to August 2007. Petrilli, who is white, claims she was forced to resign because parents wanted a black principal. The board has said Petrilli left on her own, and noted that interim principal Jock Gum is white.New principal Wendy Brown is black.
Photo from H-L.
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