Bonnie Y. White v. Kern Community College District
Published: May 14, 1994 | Result Date: Apr. 13, 1994 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: 93159130 – $250,000
Judge
Court
Tulare Superior
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Experts
Plaintiff
Gerald D. Martin
(technical)
Facts
Plaintiff Dr. Bonnie White was employed initially in 1985 as the Porterville College Dean of Instruction, in the Defendant Kern Community College District. She was the first female employed in a senior-level dean position at the college. After a series of job title changes, in March of 1992, Plaintiff was given notice that the following academic year, she would be demoted to the classroom. Within a week, she was placed on administrative leave for alleged wrongdoing. On April 1, 1992, the Defendant district's chancellor met with "community leaders" in Porterville; none of whom were directly employed by the college. In the course of that meeting, the chancellor described in detail Dr. White's personnel disputes with the college and the district's allegations against her. The chancellor referred to Dr. White during the meeting as "incompetent, insubordinate, and dishonest." In mid-April Dr. White was given formal notice of alleged unprofessional conduct.
Settlement Discussions
Plaintiff contends that prior to trial she offered to waive economic and compensatory damages in return for reinstatement and Defendant district offered one-year sabbatical contingent upon her resignation; post trial the district chancellor offered $5,000 on the punitive damage claim (accepted thereby avoiding the necessity of a jury determination of punitive damages).
Specials in Evidence
$41,000 $150-180,000
Damages
Current and future economic losses.
Injuries
Emotional distress not requiring counseling.
Deliberation
3.5 hours
Poll
9-3 discrimination, 12-0 defamation, 12-0 privacy
Length
9 days
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