News out of Florida - Teacher fired for 'wizardry' sues school district

[ck4829]

The substitute teacher who claimed the Pasco school district fired him for "wizardry" last year has one more trick up his sleeve — a lawsuit accusing the district and two employees of slander, libel, defamation and interference with his ability to get a job.

A lawyer for Jim Piculas, whose story made national news as it spread across the World Wide Web, notified the school district six months ago that he would sue unless they could reach a settlement. This week, Tampa-based attorney Jeffrey "Jack" Gordon said, he is making good on that threat.

He e-mailed a copy of the complaint, which had not been recorded in Pasco circuit court late Monday, to the St. Petersburg Times.

In it, Gordon alleges that letters and statements by district officials, specifically Rushe Middle principal Dave Estabrook and substitute teacher coordinator Patricia Sinclair, damaged Piculas' reputation and drew him into "public scandal and disgrace."

http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/article970757.ece

[murielm99]

1. "Nowhere in the complaint does the word wizard appear."

Maybe in this case the school district was correct to fire the guy.

[varkam]

2. "...one more trick up his sleeve..." Groan. I'm taking pun damage.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. If Piculas were a wizard, he wouldn't be suing. He'd just turn them all into newts.

[MadHound]

4. Sounds like this guy is bullshitting

He is the only one saying he was fired for "wizardry". The school district is saying they fired him for the use of foul language in the classroom and failing to follow lesson plans.

I think that this guy is out to make some big bucks via lawsuit. Hopefully this is slapped down quickly.

[Harry Monroe]

5. He can always find a job at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.