Teacher Lawsuit Defense
**UPDATE**
Hi everyone!
I have gotten SO many questions from concerned friends asking for updates with the lawsuit. I think most people assumed it would fall flat, but that clearly has not been the case. For those of you who have never experienced the legal process, it can be daunting, frustrating, confusing, and yes, expensive.
I keep telling people who ask, “When you get sued, you lose.” It doesn’t seem to even matter whether you have done anything illegal or even unethical. You lose because you’ve got to hire professionals to defend yourself. So here we are, six months after the petition was filed, and we’re still early in the process. The first step was/is discovery, which has multiple parts, is time-consuming and invasive. They have filed for discovery and so have we. Discovery can be a very intimidating process and seems to get into all kinds of personal information that may or may not have anything to do with the case. They wanted all of my personal bank account records and tax returns (which are all jointly owned/filed with my husband) for the last two years so they can dig around to try to find something to support their accusations. They’ve even gone as far as to make criminal accusations, claiming they need our financial records “to prove I’ve laundered money”. We did enjoy a small victory in that the judge denied their motion to compel our financial documents, but they’ve filed for the judge to reconsider the exact same objections. I can’t help but believe the reason for this is just to drain my resources because they know how limited I am.
This suit has been harassing from the beginning. Jeff Snowden first made these same Sworn Complaints to the Texas Ethics Commission, which were later dismissed (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xsc5b7KnBg4cpuu8pCc-yt12WYvqDxxR/view?usp=sharing). He should have dropped the suit, but rather, here I am, still using an incredible amount of time that I need to be using for grading papers, creating lessons and getting my kids ready for their AP Exam. Instead I’m reading filings, talking to attorneys and preparing to attend another hearing on the exact same thing the last hearing addressed.
Truthfully, I’m super frustrated. It seems like the system is set up in a way that allows someone with an axe to grind and with financial resources, to continue litigation when it isn’t justified. I truly believe that this is nothing more than a sore loser who is throwing a hissy fit about losing an election. I wish I could say it’s a new low in local politics, but sadly that doesn’t appear to be the case. Even in National Politics, it appears the courts are regularly & wastefully being used/abused for political retaliation.
So here I am again, six months later, asking for your help again. If you are able to give a tiny donation or share my story, that would be a tremendous help. Thank you for following my story, for reading to the end, for sharing, and for donating. I cannot tell you how much even a $5 donation means to me. Thank you.
** ORIGINAL POST**
In Frisco, Texas, being a teacher and pro-education is enough to get you sued.
My name is Megan DeWolfe, and I’m a high school teacher in FISD who dearly loves my kids, my school, and my district. I have been sued by the losing FISD school board candidate, Jeffory Snowden, over my involvement as a treasurer on a political action committee supporting his opponent. It appears he may be receiving the help of Empower Texans, which I believe is an openly anti-public education organization with a track record of intimidating teachers.
I live a pretty quiet life, so I never imagined I would be sued for working on what I believed to be a great cause. Other than voting, this was my first time getting involved in local politics in any capacity, and I learned a lot. I served as treasurer on a political action committee aimed at increasing the funding to the school district and then to re-elect two school board members who had a proven track record of excellence in their service. When I supported his opponent for that race, I seem to have become a target for Snowden and Empower Texans.
A few months after the school board election, I received a notice informing me that I had several complaints filed (by Snowden) to the Texas Ethics Commission regarding my campaign finance forms. Upon resolution of those issues, I assumed that would be the end of it, but I was wrong. ALL complaints were dismissed without any finding of fault by the TEC. (See documentation here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xsc5b7KnBg4cpuu8pCc-yt12WYvqDxxR/view?usp=sharing)
A few months later I was served. Snowden has sued me over the exact thing that he complained to the TEC about, even though the TEC dismissed his complaints. He is using an attorney who I believe works for Empower Texans . I think he is doing so to seek vengeance on me for my involvement in pro-public education campaigns opposite to his. I truly believe he is trying to make an example out of me to intimidate other teachers who want to work to support public education in this capacity.
The Need:
As a high school teacher and the cost of defending myself alone may be absolutely devastating. Mr. Snowden knows I’m a teacher and that I will have to go into thousands and thousands of dollars of debt defending myself. Additionally, he's asking for over $56K in damages. I am now tasked with somehow coming up with the cash to find an attorney who knows campaign finance laws well enough to defend the matter and the possibility of paying out damages. This is why I’m asking for your help.
Any excess funds will be donated to an organization that is fighting for the safety and success of Texas Public schools, in the face of burgeoning anti-education opposition by Empower Texans.
*I was originally advised that this defense could cost up to $40,000, but was reluctant to burden my family and friends with that number. But many people have encouraged me to be honest about the whole amount so that I can truly have enough to pay the legal bills.
