Justia Federal District Court Opinions

In a very detailed opinion¹ the District Court found that Appellant Sterzing's First and Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated when he was discharged from his position as a school teacher with the Fort Bend Independent School District.² As remedy the Court ordered the school district to expunge from its records all references to Sterzing's discharge and awarded him $20,000.00 in general damages and $5,000.00 for attorney's fees. The Court denied Sterzing's request for reinstatement as a teacher with the Fort Bend Independent School District on the grounds that his reinstatement would only revive antagonisms and that the award of monetary damages compensated Sterzing for his expectancy of reemployment. Sterzing brought this appeal solely to challenge the Court's denial of his request for reinstatement. The school district defendants filed notice of cross-appeal but subsequently abandoned their appeal. Since we find that the District Judge based his denial of reinstatement on an incorrect legal standard we vacate the judgment and remand for reconsideration of the issue of remedy.

The District Judge based his holding that Sterzing's First Amendment rights were violated on the ground that the school board improperly restricted Sterzing's right to speak and express his opinion in the classroom. In declining to grant reinstatement on the basis that it would be too antagonistic, the Court used an impermissible ground. On the hypothesis of a violation of his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights-- an hypothesis which is unchallenged in view of the dismissal of the cross-appeal /3/ -- the Court could not deny relief on such basis. Enforcement of constitutional rights frequently has disturbing consequences. Relief is not restricted to that which will be pleasing and free of irritation.

But the Court also made clear in its opinion that an equally significant basis for its denial of reinstatement was the award of $20,000.00 in lieu of several years salary. Of course appellant cannot have the right to a consideration of reinstatement on proper grounds without allowing the District Court to weigh all of the factors leading to the remedy ultimately chosen. Consequently the whole judgment, insofar as it prescribed a remedy, must be vacated. The District Court should fully reconsider its remedy in light of our ruling that the basis stated was impermissible. We express no view on what that remedy should be.

Vacated and remanded.