Ashburn attorney Tyson C. Langhofer and D.C. attorney J. Caleb Dalton both of Alliance Defending Freedom have filed a lawsuit in Loudoun County Circuit Court on behalf of teacher Tanner Cross who was suspended from his teaching job for remarks made at a School Board meeting.
From the LoudounTimes.com,
According to the lawsuit, the school system’s actions against Cross have “chilled” his speech and “retaliated against [him] for exercising his rights under the Virginia Constitution.” It also asserts that Cross’ right to free speech under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution has been “deterred.”
The suit directs that Tanner be reinstated to his post, that any evidence of discipline against him be scrubbed from his personnel files and that LCPS not further punish Cross “for expressing his views on gender-identity education policy.” It also seeks nominal and compensatory damages.
Stacy Haney of Haney Phinyowattanachip, a Richmond education law firm representing LCPS, had this excuse for Cross’s suspension,
“there was significant disruption at Leesburg Elementary School, including multiple complaints and parents requesting that Mr. Cross have no contact with their children because of his comments.”
So, if multiple parents complain about a teacher, because he expressed his views while not at work, he will lose his job? Who knew that parents in Loudoun County had that kind of power?
