The DeKalb County School District has agreed to pay more than $160,000 to settle a lawsuit claiming the district illegally withheld $750 apiece from 150 teachers’ final paychecks when they resigned at the end of the 2013 school year.
The settlement refunds that money, which was charged to the teachers as liquidated damages for breaching their contracts. The deal also includes $50,000 in attorney fees and includes a moratorium on the imposition of such penalties going forward, according to Julie Oinonen of Williams Oinonen. She represents two of the teachers hit with the penalties who sued to have the policy overturned.
