District

Jury Awards $5 Million to Ex-Water District Employee Discriminated Against After On-the-Job Injury

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EAST WENATCHEE, Wash. — A jury has awarded $5 million to Brian Kniffen, a former employee of the East Wenatchee Water District, following his termination after experiencing a job-related spinal injury. The jury found that the public utility unlawfully discriminated against Kniffen and failed to provide proper accommodations required under the law. The jury’s unanimous decision was based on four claims related to Kniffen’s treatment after his injury in 2019. His legal team argued that instead of offering necessary support to enable him to continue working, the Water District opted to terminate his employment to … Read more

"Mt. Diablo School District Embraces Change After Title IX Settlement to Enhance Gender Equity in Student Sports"

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Pleasant Hill, Calif. — The Mt. Diablo Unified School District has reached a settlement over a Title IX lawsuit involving allegations of sex discrimination brought by former athletes from College Park High School. The case highlighted significant disparities between the facilities and resources available for the girls’ softball team compared to the boys’ baseball team, sparking outrage among the community. The lawsuit, filed in early 2024 by three former softball players and their families, pointed to the girls’ playing field as particularly inadequate. They described it as overgrown and lacking in basic amenities, especially in … Read more

Mt. Diablo School District Takes Action After Settling Landmark Gender Discrimination Lawsuit by Female Athletes

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Pleasant Hill, Calif. — The Mt. Diablo Unified School District has reached a settlement in a sex discrimination lawsuit filed by former student-athletes at College Park High School. The lawsuit highlighted significant discrepancies in the facilities available for boys’ and girls’ sports teams, particularly emphasizing the treatment of the girls’ softball team. According to the plaintiffs, the girls were forced to play on a field that was often overgrown and uneven, while the boys’ baseball team practiced and played on a well-maintained diamond. This glaring difference in conditions became emblematic of the broader issue of … Read more

Former Water District Employee Awarded $5 Million After Wrongful Termination Following Job-Related Injury

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EAST WENATCHEE, Wash. — A jury has awarded $5 million to Brian Kniffen, a former employee of the East Wenatchee Water District, after ruling he was wrongfully let go due to a job-related spinal injury. The verdict highlights serious concerns regarding compliance with state and federal disability discrimination laws. The jury concluded that the Water District failed to provide reasonable accommodations for Kniffen, who was employed as a utility field inspector for nearly three decades. His back injury occurred in 2020 when he attempted to open a stuck water main valve. Following his injury, Kniffen … Read more