I think Mike LaChance over at LI has a much more accurate headline with "Far Left Activist Yvette Felarca Ordered to Pay Conservative Group’s $20k Legal Fees." I would recommend the adjective 'violent' to start that headline.
You see, this 'teacher' "has been a prominent figure at many local political rallies and is currently facing a felony charge in Sacramento for allegedly assaulting a neo-Nazi demonstrator." I have no sympathy for nazis, neo or otherwise, but violence against anyone is not acceptable.
But back to the headlines, the term 'legal fees' was referenced in the latter, and that implies yet another court battle this 'teacher' is entangled. Odd, that 'legal fees' wasn't prominently featured in the former headline.
From Natalie Orenstein at Berkeleyside: "The case stems from a 2017 records request filed by Judicial Watch. The group asked Berkeley Unified for all emails sent among district and King Middle School staff related to Felarca and her radical activism with By Any Means Necessary."
Once again, I recommend the adjective 'violent' to describe this 'teacher's' activism.
Orenstein presses on: "Felarca and King colleagues Lori Nixon and Larry Stefl, in turn, sued BUSD in late 2017 to stop the district from handing over the emails. Their lawyers, from By Any Means Necessary, argued that the release of any of the records would chill Felarca’s freedom of speech and threaten the safety and privacy of her colleagues."
'Threaten the safety.' Threats from who? Name them.
To continue: "Chhabria ruled in October 2018 that the Felarca and the other educators could not prevent BUSD from releasing the emails to Judicial Watch. The school district released the records in batches over the next few months."
This has nothing to do with freedom of speech. These 'teachers' are employed by Berkeley United School District. They are public employees. Their work emails are public property according to the California Public Records Act. Moreover, why are taxpayers required to fund the outside activism of district employees using district time and equipment?
"Judicial Watch initially argued that the organization was entitled to more than $317,850 in attorney’s fees and $8,309 in litigation costs from Felarca, Nixon and Stefl. Chhabria reduced the amount to $22,000 in attorney’s fees (Felarca is responsible for $20,000; the other two must pay $1,000 each) and $4,000 in litigation costs."
Ok. Fair enough. Damages are frequently reduced in civil lawsuits, so I call this a win against the violent, radical activist employed by the tax payers as a 'teacher.'
"Felarca’s lawyer Shanta Driver said Wednesday that if the judge had not decreased the award, the educators would have become “indentured servants to Judicial Watch for the rest of their careers.”"
Sad trombone. Sad trombone.
