HERMANTOWN — The city's school district is facing a lawsuit on behalf of a former employee who is alleging retaliation after raising concerns over compliance with special education laws.
Minneapolis-based law firm Storms Dworak is representing former speech-language pathologist Emily Bellamy in her suit alleging that the Hermantown school district violated the Minnesota Whistleblower Act.
“Our firm represents others in cases in which they ... came forward with a concern about some wrongdoing, or ... suspected unlawful conduct,” said Naomi Martin, an attorney with Storm Dworak. “The work our firm does lets people know that they have rights, to be free from retaliation when raising those concerns. And if that happens to them, they can reach out and see whether it's something our firm can help them with.”
The law firm filed a complaint in State District Court on Nov. 2, claiming that the Hermantown school district had retaliated against Bellamy by not renewing her employment contract after she made numerous reports regarding administrator conduct and the handling of individualized education plans, or IEPs, for students with disabilities.
As part of the lawsuit against the district, she is seeking $50,000 in damages, citing loss of income, emotional distress and harm to her reputation.
Following a request from the Duluth News Tribune, Hermantown Superintendent Wayne Whitwam stated that the district has no comment on the pending litigation. The district has filed a response to...
Actor Park Si-hoo stated that the allegations of “arranging an extramarital affair” surrounding him are “clearly false” and that he will “leave it to the judgment of the law.” At the production br...