102717judge-and-gavel

WHISTLEBLOWER

MIAMI-DADE CIRCUIT COURT

A jury ruled a Miami school board's decision to transfer a whistleblowing teacher was not retaliatory.

In October 2013, Trevor Colestock, 38, a library employee at Miami Norland Senior High School, was involuntarily transferred to a nearby school after he took part in investigating and reporting on teaching-assisted cheating among students. Colestock alleged he was transferred for his actions in violation of the Florida Public Whistleblower Act and his First Amendment freedom of speech.

The school board argued the transfer was not done in retaliation but in the best interests of the school system because there were protests and threats against Colestock. The jury agreed.

Case: Colestock v. School Board of Miami-Dade County

Case No.: 2014-007877-CA-01

Plaintiffs attorneys: Thomas Elfers, Law Office of Thomas Elfers, Miami; Craig J. Freger, Craig J. Freger, Attorney at Law, Pembroke Pines

Defense attorneys: Cristina Rivera Correa and Christopher James La Piano; Miami-Dade County School Board Attorney's Office, Miami