Corpus Christi Watchdog Authority: A total of $507,500! Lawsuits against DMC by two former College employees and a student were settled out of court

Corpus Christi Watchdog Authority: Friday, March 28, 2008
A total of $507,500! Lawsuits against DMC by two former College employees and a student were settled out of court

Lawsuits against DMC by two former College employees and a student were settled out of court, for a total of $507,500.

Theresa Cox, former dean of Equal Opportunity/Affirmitive Action, Equity, Access and Compliance was awarded $450,000 after suing the college for wrongful termination, demotion, retaliation, and change in work assignments, according to the suit.

In another settlement stemming from a joint lawsuit against the college, citing civil rights violations, former student Melody Lopez received $7,500 and Alberto Benitez, former criminal justice instructor, received $50,000.

"Upon the advice and recommendation of the College's outside litigation counsel and its risk pool carrier, the lawsuits filed by former student Melody Lopez and former employee Theresa Cox were settled out of court to avoid additional expense and disruption of College business," Auggie Rivera, Counsel to the BOR, said.: