Court tosses ex-counselor’s suit
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NEW ORLEANS — The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeal has thrown out a lawsuit by a former Baton Rouge school guidance counselor, who admitted stealing from an education advocacy group he once led.
Lester L. Washington, a tenured and licensed school guidance counselor and past president of the East Baton Rouge Parish Association of Educators, filed suit last year in the federal Middle District Court, seeking to blame his ruined career on others.
Named defendants in his suit included Carol Davis, past president of the Louisiana Association of Educators — an influential statewide advocacy organization for public education. Also sued was the board of directors on the Baton Rouge affiliate of the LAE, who ousted Washington for admittedly stealing checks in 2002, court records show.
“Washington’s complaint sets forth a lengthy list of grievances against the defendants, documenting perceived mistreatment in connection with his stewardship of the organization and his criminal prosecution,” a three-judge panel of the federal appellate court opined its ruling dismissing the case Thursday.
An attorney for a prominent defendant said he was unaware the suit had been tossed.
“I haven’t received any (notice) from the court yet,” said A. Edward Hardin Jr., a Baton Rouge lawyer representing LAE president Carol Davis, said Friday. “This is the first I’m hearing of it.”
In June 2006, Washington pleaded guilty to felony theft in state 19th Judicial District Court to felony theft from the East Baton Rouge Parish educators association, parish court records show. He was ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to the group. He also was sentenced to five years of supervised probation.
He later relocated to Fort Collins, Colo., records show.
Acting as his own attorney, Washington later filed his lawsuit. He alleged that one or more of his former fellow educators — not him — were responsible for the money stolen from the Baton Rouge education group. However, the 5th Circuit found “no factual support” for Washington’s claim.
Washington also alleged that his former colleagues retaliated for his reporting of “child abuse” against a 17-year-old office worker at the association office, the 5th Circuit ruling states. But he offered no facts to support claims he was entitled to relief under federal whistle-blower protection laws, employment discrimination laws or state civil service rules, the appellate ruling states.
Washington also challenged a number of rulings by U.S. District Court Judge James J. Brady, alleging that trial judge of his lawsuit “engaged in intentional or unintentional obstruction of justice” by dismissing evidence in his lawsuit.
However, the 5th Circuit agreed with Judge Brady’s warning — the American practice of allowing lay people to act as courtroom lawyers “is not a sword with which to insult a trial judge.”
Lester L. Washington, a tenured and licensed school guidance counselor and past president of the East Baton Rouge Parish Association of Educators, filed suit last year in the federal Middle District Court, seeking to blame his ruined career on others.
Named defendants in his suit included Carol Davis, past president of the Louisiana Association of Educators — an influential statewide advocacy organization for public education. Also sued was the board of directors on the Baton Rouge affiliate of the LAE, who ousted Washington for admittedly stealing checks in 2002, court records show.
“Washington’s complaint sets forth a lengthy list of grievances against the defendants, documenting perceived mistreatment in connection with his stewardship of the organization and his criminal prosecution,” a three-judge panel of the federal appellate court opined its ruling dismissing the case Thursday.
An attorney for a prominent defendant said he was unaware the suit had been tossed.
“I haven’t received any (notice) from the court yet,” said A. Edward Hardin Jr., a Baton Rouge lawyer representing LAE president Carol Davis, said Friday. “This is the first I’m hearing of it.”
In June 2006, Washington pleaded guilty to felony theft in state 19th Judicial District Court to felony theft from the East Baton Rouge Parish educators association, parish court records show. He was ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to the group. He also was sentenced to five years of supervised probation.
He later relocated to Fort Collins, Colo., records show.
Acting as his own attorney, Washington later filed his lawsuit. He alleged that one or more of his former fellow educators — not him — were responsible for the money stolen from the Baton Rouge education group. However, the 5th Circuit found “no factual support” for Washington’s claim.
Washington also alleged that his former colleagues retaliated for his reporting of “child abuse” against a 17-year-old office worker at the association office, the 5th Circuit ruling states. But he offered no facts to support claims he was entitled to relief under federal whistle-blower protection laws, employment discrimination laws or state civil service rules, the appellate ruling states.
Washington also challenged a number of rulings by U.S. District Court Judge James J. Brady, alleging that trial judge of his lawsuit “engaged in intentional or unintentional obstruction of justice” by dismissing evidence in his lawsuit.
However, the 5th Circuit agreed with Judge Brady’s warning — the American practice of allowing lay people to act as courtroom lawyers “is not a sword with which to insult a trial judge.”
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