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Workers had claimed retaliation for supporting losing board members.
A federal court jury found on Monday that three former Wyoming Area School District management employees were retaliated against for supporting school-board members who lost re-election bids in 2005.
The three men — Patrick Pribula, James Zarra and Robert Micheletti — were awarded a total of $317,002 in compensatory damages and $183,000 in punitive damages from the seven defendants, including district Superintendent Ray Bernardi.
The other defendants were board members Anthony Sobeski, Antoinette Valenti, John LaNunziata, Nick DeAngelo, John Bolin, Jerry Wall and John Marianacci. Sobeski, however, wasn’t leveled any damages.
The ruling awarded Pribula, the former district building and grounds supervisor, with $70,000 in compensatory damages and $134,000 in punitive damages. Zarra, the former technology supervisor, was awarded $240,002 in compensatory damages and $24,500 in punitive damages, while Micheletti was awarded $7,000 in compensatory damages and $24,500 in punitive damages.
“The key issue here is you can’t go out there and pick on people for political reasons. The jury saw this as these people being punished for political reasons,” said Don Bailey, one of the attorneys who represented the men.
They had argued that their First Amendment rights were violated and that they were forced to leave the district because of poor working conditions, harassment and board actions that hurt them financially.
The defense had argued that separation from employment had nothing to do with First Amendment rights because Pribula quit, Micheletti retired and Zarra refused a contract offer. Robin Snyder, attorney for the school district, did not return a phone message Monday seeking comment on the decision.
Pribula’s job title was stripped following the 2005 election. Zarra was offered a job, but with a $20,000 pay cut and no paid benefits. Micheletti had asked to suspend his retirement, but that was denied and a ruling that greatly increased his benefits was rescinded.
The district itself had been named in the lawsuit, but was subsequently thrown out.