A ruling against a Pima Community College student, in Pima County Superior Court is being called a “terrible blow against English-speakers.” The Arizona law firm of Munger & Chadwick represented nursing student Terri Bennett, who alleged that the College was in violation of Arizona’s official English law.
Bennett also sued for defamation, unfair suspension, and numerous other counts against the school.
“A Tucson Superior Court in the case of Terri Bennett vs. Pima Community College has unfortunately sided with a college that created a hostile environment for an English-speaking nursing student,” says ProEnglish Executive director Robert Vandervoort. “After making a simple request for her classes to be conducted in English, school administrators called Bennett a ‘bigot’ and she was punished with a nine-month suspension,” Vandervoort said.
“Unfortunately, the judge granted a directed verdict to the school on the counts for discrimination, defamation, and false light — so those issues didn’t go before the jury. The judge also inexplicably ruled that the jury couldn’t get to decide on whether the school was supposed to ‘preserve, protect, and enhance English,’ which is a provision within Article 28 of the Arizona constitution,” Vandervoort said.
“In light of the fact that the judge did not allow the plaintiff’s major claims and evidence to go before the jury, Terri Bennett did not receive justice. We will now be reviewing and considering all legal options,” Vandervoort said. “This is a terrible blow for those of us seeking to preserve and protect the rights of English-speakers in a taxpayer-supported institution.”