LAWSUITS TODAY IN THESE TWO LAWSUITS FILED EARLIER TODAY AGAINST THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. FORMER DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES ALLEGE THEY ARE THE VICTIMS OF RETALIATORY AND WRONGFUL TERMINATION AND THAT THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED. I COULDN’T BELIEVE SOMEBODY IN PUBLIC OFFICE WOULD DO THAT. YOU KNOW, PUBLIC OFFICE MEANS THAT YOU ARE WORKING FOR THE PUBLIC. ATTORNEY MARK HAMMONS IS REPRESENTING CHERYL MCGEE AND MATTHEW CALDWELL, BOTH USED TO WORK AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND BOTH WERE FIRED AFTER SHARING DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATIONS. MCGEE SHARED AN EMAIL WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHILE CALDWELL TALKED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE AND HIS STATE LAWMAKER ABOUT CONCERNS SURROUNDING A PROPOSED TEACHER PAY PLAN. HAMMOND SAYS HIS CLIENT’S FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND STATE GOVERNMENTS HAVE TO ABIDE BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT. THAT APPLIES TO THEM DIRECTLY. WHAT HAMMOND’S TAKE SPECIFIC ISSUE WITH IS AN EMAIL SENT BY WALTERS POLICY ADVISER MATT LANGSTON LAST WEEK THREATENING TERMINATION IF ANY EMPLOYEE SPOKE WITH THE MEDIA. THEY CAN’T JUST SAY, WELL, WE DON’T LIKE THE CONSEQUENCE OF THE FIRS
Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters target of lawsuit filed in federal court
Former state Department of Education employees are suing Walters and his advisor Matt Langston after they were fired over releasing department communications to the media
The state Superintendent Ryan Walters is now the target of a lawsuit filed in federal court. Former state Department of Education employees are suing Walters and his advisor Matt Langston after they were fired over releasing department communications to the media.The lawsuits filed allege two employees were the victims of wrongful and retaliatory termination and that their first amendment rights were violated.| MORE | Lawsuits against Ryan Walters, Matt Langston claim wrongful termination over ‘leaked’ email”I couldn’t believe someone in public office would do that. Public office means you’re working for the public,” said Mark Hammons, the attorney for the former OSDE employees.Hammons is representing Cheryl McGee and Matthew Colwell. Both used to work at the OSDE, and both were fired after sharing department communications.McGee shared an email with members of the public while Colwell had talked with the attorney general’s office and a state lawmaker about concerns surrounding a proposed teacher pay plan. Hammons said his client’s first amendment rights were violated.”The federal government and the state governments have to abide by the first amendment — that applies to them directly,” Hammons said.What Hammons takes specific issue with is an email sent by Walters’ policy advisor Langston last week, threatening termination if any employee spoke with the media.”They can’t just say, ‘Well, we don’t like the consequence of the first amendment protecting people, and so we’re going to ignore it,'” Hammons said.| MORE | Ryan Walters holds contentious meeting Thursday, threatens employees who leak emailsThe OSDE provided a short statement on Tuesday, saying they do not wish to comment on HR matters.Top HeadlinesOklahoma State University professor among 2 killed in wrong-way, head-on crash on Maine interstateOklahoma breweries notice ‘sober curious’ trend gaining traction across countryPerson dead after hit-and-run in Oklahoma City, officials sayEdmond police confirm horrible crash after alleged underage drinking
The state Superintendent Ryan Walters is now the target of a lawsuit filed in federal court.
Former state Department of Education employees are suing Walters and his advisor Matt Langston after they were fired over releasing department communications to the media.
The lawsuits filed allege two employees were the victims of wrongful and retaliatory termination and that their first amendment rights were violated.
| MORE | Lawsuits against Ryan Walters, Matt Langston claim wrongful termination over ‘leaked’ email
“I couldn’t believe someone in public office would do that. Public office means you’re working for the public,” said Mark Hammons, the attorney for the former OSDE employees.
Hammons is representing Cheryl McGee and Matthew Colwell. Both used to work at the OSDE, and both were fired after sharing department communications.
McGee shared an email with members of the public while Colwell had talked with the attorney general’s office and a state lawmaker about concerns surrounding a proposed teacher pay plan. Hammons said his client’s first amendment rights were violated.
“The federal government and the state governments have to abide by the first amendment — that applies to them directly,” Hammons said.
What Hammons takes specific issue with is an email sent by Walters’ policy advisor Langston last week, threatening termination if any employee spoke with the media.
“They can’t just say, ‘Well, we don’t like the consequence of the first amendment protecting people, and so we’re going to ignore it,'” Hammons said.
| MORE | Ryan Walters holds contentious meeting Thursday, threatens employees who leak emails
The OSDE provided a short statement on Tuesday, saying they do not wish to comment on HR matters.
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