Jury Sides with Whistleblower in Landmark Case Against Jersey City Schools, Awarding $245,000 for Retaliation

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — A civil jury in Hudson County has awarded $125,000 in punitive damages to a former Jersey City Public Schools employee after finding that the Jersey City Board of Education retaliated against her for whistleblowing. The ruling came after a trial that lasted two weeks, culminating in a verdict delivered on Tuesday. The jury’s decision follows an earlier award of $120,000 in compensatory damages granted to Sabrina Harrold, the former assistant director of human resources for the district. Following the jury’s deliberations, Judge Kalimah Ahmad concluded the trial and dismissed the jurors. … Read more

West Point Professor Launches Landmark Lawsuit, Defending Free Speech Rights Against Academy’s New Policy

West Point, New York – The U.S. Military Academy is facing a federal lawsuit from one of its longest-serving law professors, Tim Bakken, who claims the institution’s new policy infringes on his First Amendment rights. The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, alleges that a recently implemented rule requires faculty members to seek prior approval before speaking publicly or publishing academic papers in their official roles. Bakken, who is representing over 100 civilian faculty members in a class-action suit, argues that the February 13, 2025, rule is designed to suppress speech that … Read more

Former Polk County HR Chief Wins $4.26 Million in Landmark Libel Case Against County Officials

Adel, Iowa — A jury in Dallas County has awarded over $4.26 million to Jim Nahas, the former Human Resources chief of Polk County, in a libel case against the county. The verdict came after jurors found that Nahas was wrongfully dismissed from his position five years ago, with the intentional aim of undermining his reputation. During the trial, Nahas accused the former county administrator and two current supervisors of using his termination as a political strategy to target another county official. The jury’s decision underscores the serious implications of political maneuvering within local government. … Read more