Posted on 06/28/2016 8:28:26 AM PDT by rickmichaels
Philadelphias public school system was ordered to pay out $2.3 million in damages after a court found it deliberately discriminated against a white-owned business.
Security and Data Technologies, Inc. (SDT) was initially chosen by Philadelphia School District (PSD) and then-Superintendent Arlene Ackerman back in 2010 to install surveillance cameras at 19 schools PSD classified as particularly dangerous. After the company began preliminary work, it was abruptly deselected and the $7.5 million no-bid contract was then awarded on an emergency basis to IBS Communications, a company not eligible for no-bid contracts.
The abrupt turn of events, it turns out, had a racial motivation. An investigation by The Philadelphia Inquirer discovered Ackerman became fed up that the district kept giving contracts to white-owned companies. PSD is owned by two white men.
So, after telling other PSD administrators she would make sure all these white boys didnt get contracts, Ackerman canceled SDTs contract and diverted it over to IBS, which had black ownership.
After Ackermans stunt was publicized, SDT sued, and the six-year legal odyssey finally ended Monday with a victory for the plaintiffs. A jury ruled that the district, along with Ackermans estate (she died in 2013), must pay out $2.3 million in damages. The damages cover $2.1 million in lost profits along with a small sum of compensatory damages.
Its been a long, hard journey. Justice was served, SDT attorney Michael Homans told the Inquirer.
PSD says it is exploring a possible appeal.
The case isnt the only one that stemmed from Ackermans actions. Francis Dougherty, a member of the citys School Reform Committee, was fired after he leaked Ackermans deeds to the press. He sued, claiming his free speech and whistleblower rights were violated. His case was settled for $725,000 earlier this year. Two more lawsuits are still pending.
Prior to her downfall, and almost simultaneously with her decision to cancel the SDT contract, Ackerman was praised by President Barack Obama.
She must have made some really good investments to have that much of an estate on just a poor public servent salary./s
I remember that story.
All across the globe, when you abrogate your responsibility to civilization and turn over the reigns of power to this demographic, the outcome is preordained: Massive, utter failure.
“This is the most significant clause in this entire article.”
Absolutely agree. There really is no “revenge” possible against a publicly funded entity. I mean if you smash a parking meter because you’re pissed off that you got a ticket, the replacement money comes out of your (and other taxpayer) pockets. Sue a school for anything, and the money just comes out of funds allegedly devoted to educating children. Very interesting that her estate had been held in probate for this time. Very. Sharp lawyers on that case.
The article doesn't say how much was paid by her estate, and how much was paid by the school district. But, in some states, if two defendants are assessed damages and one can't pay any or all of it, the other defendant must make up the difference.
Superintendents are usually paid pretty well, especially in large school districts. And, if she preceded that with a career as a public school teacher, she is likely to have a significant pension. Depending on the rules in PA, the value of her pension may have been "attached" before she died.
“This is what happens when you turn over civilization to retrograde, tribal dullards.”
Well, no. It happened THIS time. A 1 in 500 event.
"Prior to her downfall, and almost simultaneously with her decision to cancel the SDT contract, Ackerman was praised by President Barack Obama."
Everything and everybody this guy touches goes belly-up. Pray he never endorses Trump.
OMG he looks like Michael!
Expect this to be appealed by the dept. of “just us’ with extreme prejudice.
>Government Court orders a government school to pay a fine. Is this just an accounting trick or does actual monies come from the school districts bank account and into the courts bank? Or is this just more Kabuki for the rubes?
Worse. It goes from the TAXPAYERS to the biz. I didn’t read anything on the % that had to come from the racists’ ‘estate’ (I’m sure I could count it on both hands).
Now, if each and every govt employee was PERSONALLY liable, as they should be for their gross misconduct....
Agree
She was black, I doubt she was Jewish.
ping
A total racist black bitch with way too much power. Sounds like someone else we know, residing in the WH.
I know, I did use /s. It’s just that the teachers unions go around saying how underpaid and mistreated they are, and they actually do well in some areas.
...then-Superintendent Arlene Ackerman... after telling other PSD administrators she would make sure "all these white boys didn't get contracts," Ackerman canceled SDT's contract and diverted it over to IBS, which had black ownership. After Ackermans stunt was publicized, SDT sued... A jury ruled that the district, along with Ackerman's estate (she died in 2013), must pay out $2.3 million in damages... The case isnt the only one that stemmed from Ackerman's actions. Francis Dougherty, a member of the city's School Reform Committee, was fired after he leaked Ackerman's deeds to the press... His case was settled for $725,000 earlier this year. Two more lawsuits are still pending.and now the punchline:
Prior to her downfall, and almost simultaneously with her decision to cancel the SDT contract, Ackerman was praised by President Barack Obama.
SDT should re-register as a minority owned business. Since we can now choose our sex and our race, everybody can get in on the government minority gravy train.
Only problem is, the school district doesn’t have a dime of its own money - it’s taxpayer money. They’ll just raise the school tax another notch.
That seems a dad unusual.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.