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Attorney says she was fired for questioning AV School Board contracts

by City News Service • August 28, 2020 6 Comments

LANCASTER – The former general counsel for the Antelope Valley Union High School District is suing her former employer, contending she was fired in 2019 for blowing the whistle on allegedly illegal contracts that would have provided financial windfalls to some Board members.

Bridget Cook, who is Black, also alleges she was the victim of race and gender discrimination. Her Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit alleges discrimination, retaliation, breach of contract and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

A district representative did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the lawsuit, which was filed Wednesday, Aug. 26, and seeks unspecified damages.

Cook says she began working for the district as a substitute teacher in 1994, became a full-time teacher four years later and was named general counsel in 1998, holding the position until her firing.

Cook regularly attended AVUHSD board meetings and became a member of the superintendent’s cabinet. Her responsibilities included providing legal advice to district leadership, administrators, board members and other staff, according to her suit.

Beginning in December 2018, AVUHSD’s board members engaged in improper governmental activities, including awarding and attempting to award lucrative contracts to friends and associates, the suit alleges. Cook raised concerns about alleged waste, improper use of government funds and unlawful conduct to the board and to her supervisor, but the board majority disregarded her disclosures and AVUHSD unlawfully retaliated against her by firing her without cause, the suit states.

One contract would have resulted in an impermissible gift of public funds to three board members, one of whom has since left the board, according to the plaintiff.

When Cook was fired in June 2019 in alleged retaliation for speaking out about the contracts, she was the highest paid Black employee and the highest paid woman, yet received no notice that the board was considering taking away her job, the lawsuit states.

“Cook was not permitted to address the board before the board took action to terminate her, nor was she permitted to respond to any allegations regarding her job performance,” the suit says. “At almost midnight, with no warning and after nearly 25 years of exemplary service to AVUHSD, Cook was told that she was being placed on immediate administrative leave and would be escorted from the premises by a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy,” according to the suit.

In addition to its alleged retaliation, Cook maintains the district unlawfully discriminated against her on the basis of her race and gender. The former board member told Cook she was “useless,” that she was “not Black enough” and that she should read “Snakes in Suits,” a book that discusses the danger of psychopaths in the workplace, to see where she “fit in,” according to the suit.

The day she was fired, the former trustee harassed Cook, demanding that she work on a non-legal matter involving male genitalia, which was outside the scope of Cook’s work responsibilities, the suit states.

“AVUHSD’s treatment of Cook is part of a pattern and practice in which white men receive reasonable notice if they are being considered for termination, and are given the opportunity to remain employed, maintain their salaries, and ultimately receive promotions,” according to the complaint. “In contrast, women and African-Americans in management positions are demoted, lose pay or are fired.”

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Filed Under: Education, Home, Lancaster, Los Angeles County

6 comments for "Attorney says she was fired for questioning AV School Board contracts"

  1. Bob says

    August 30, 2020 at 9:37 am

    Clowns.. every last one of them.

    Reply
  2. Blame Ruffin/Parrell says

    August 29, 2020 at 7:47 am

    Just to clarify, Bridget was fired by the board majority in 2018: Bob Davis, Amanda Parrell and the infamous Victoria Ruffin. Yes, one of Bob Davis’ relatives was issued a security consulting contract. Bob left with his tail between his legs and since then the board has been a 4 person board and it is split in half, Parrell and Ruffin refuse to let anything pass, even funds to feed the students of the AVUHSD. These two morons are going to cause the district millions of dollars. Now, one of Ruffin’s other buddies is running to fill the vacant seat in November. God have mercy on our students and our valley.

    Reply
    • WhyOhWhy? says

      August 29, 2020 at 4:35 pm

      Can you name this Ruffin friend that is running for election in November?

      That way we can NOT vote for him/her?

      Reply
      • Be careful... says

        August 29, 2020 at 8:27 pm

        Miguel Coronado, he actually is after Jill McGrady’s seat, area 2. Be careful who you vote for AV community, he is linked to various stories that cause g the is valley unnecessary issues. Do your research people.

        Reply
        • Tom Martenez Ibew says

          August 31, 2020 at 3:11 pm

          Miguel Coronado works for Parris Law firm so he should be fine and can be trusted to do the right thing for the High School District. He will get our vote!

          Reply
          • Doctor Miazz says

            August 31, 2020 at 3:16 pm

            The so called ‘doctor’ Coronado loves to see himself on tv and social media when he shows up and hogs the camera at some tragedy. Rex threw some money his way and now he owns him.

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