September 8, 2010, - 4:02 pm

UPDATE on Muslim Principal/Dearborn Public Schools Suit: Detroit Free Press Article

By Debbie Schlussel

Pulitzer Prize-winning Detroit Free Press reporter David Ashenfelter has an article  in today’s paper about the federal lawsuit my law firm announced on this site, yesterday, Brian Purcell and Georgene Stergalas v. Imad Fadlallah and Dearborn Public Schools.  I am not commenting beyond what is contained in the complaint, but I must set the record straight regarding a comment by the Dearborn Public Schools Superintendent Bryan Whiston, as it is unfairly prejudicial to my clients, and if I do not correct the record, my clients’ reputation and cause of action will be unduly harmed.

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In the article, Mr. Whiston asserts that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) “investigated” the claims and that “nothing was found to be valid.”  That is completely false.  In fact, as stated in the lawsuit complaint, we asked the EEOC to send us “Right to Sue letters,” so that we could proceed with litigation in federal court, after waiting for the EEOC to investigate the matter and seeing no movement.  Nothing was investigated by the EEOC, and no determination was made by the agency regarding the claims.  The Right to Sue letters, attached as Exhibit A of the complaint, state that.




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11 Responses

Debbie, you wish he would at least get the record straight. A phone call to you would have confirmed it.

What is it with reporters who can’t be bothered to call a client’s attorney to verify certain facts on the record?

One expected better of David Ashenfelter.

NormanF on September 8, 2010 at 4:24 pm

Well, considering the people who have won Pulitzers, I’m not too surprised. AFter all, traitors to the US, who have divulged information to our enemies and been responsible for the death of our troops have won these prizes.

The role of the EEOC was obvious from the Complaint, and someone with even average intelligence could have read and understood it. So either gross negligence or deliberate distortion on Mr. Whiston’s part.

Little Al on September 8, 2010 at 5:42 pm

Having prevailed in cases in which I was a co-plaintiff with the EEOC and in which they simply issued a right to sue, I can state that the role of the EEOC is incredibly overrated.

The EEOC accepts a minuscule percentage of cases.The fact that they do not take action is meaningless. Their agenda is completely different when they do take a case. They are more often than not focused on consent orders as compared to damages. The fact that they did any investigation and did not take the case should be given no weight.

Brian Cuban on September 8, 2010 at 6:58 pm

Hi Debbie,

Sorry to go off track, but what do you think of Daniel Benjamin, the State Department Counter-terrorism Coordinator? He seems like he is another dhimmwit who doesnt see the big picture…

Thanks
Pete

Pete Hamilton on September 8, 2010 at 7:16 pm

I mean, he makes it seem as if the global jihad is merely a “disease” afflicting Islam… and is everyone in the top levels of government in bed with the Saudis?! Do we have more regard for the needs and desires of Saudi Arabia than for those who are actually (its rare these days) friendly to the US? Its seems, to my dismay, that we do.

Pete Hamilton on September 8, 2010 at 7:25 pm

I read an article a few weeks back about the Fordson football team. In a nutshell, they were in a predicament because they couldn’t schedule football practice during daylight hours during Rammdan. To solve this, they conducted practice between 11pm and 4:30am. I’m surprised that this did not violate any MHSAA rules. Maybe something else for Debbie to look into.

See the Aug 15 Free Press:

http://www.freep.com/article/20100815/HSS1201/8150485/Dearborn-Fordson-coach-changes-practice-to-honor-Ramadan

michman on September 8, 2010 at 8:37 pm

Debbie, it is great that you get to directly help the situation at Fordson. I hope you nail the school board to the wall, and force them to face reality. I can tell you that it will be a difficult battle, but I’m rooting for you, and for justice to prevail for the teachers involved.

Dearborn Fan on September 8, 2010 at 9:36 pm

That seems like a very significant correction! Interesting, that EEOC dragged their feet.

NancyB on September 8, 2010 at 11:59 pm

Well, of course Whiston is going to say that…it’s called “covering your a**”!

Unfortunately, the reporter never bothered to check.

So what’s new? Lieing “politicians” and lazy reporters.

Dave on September 11, 2010 at 4:09 pm

I know these teacher personally and can say that try as you might to turn this into a Christian vs. Muslim thing it simply is not. Its an individual discriminating person against two that where discriminated against.

I’m a muslim that attended the school in question and am still friends with one of the teachers. I saw this thing grow from the inside and know what was done against them and I am truly against it. So yes I’m a Muslim, siding with the two Christians against a very arrogant individual, not Islam as a whole.

Don’t turn it into what it is not.

Mohamed on January 10, 2011 at 6:43 pm

    Hi Mohamed,

    I’m very impressed by your comment. It’s good to see someone stand up for the truth instead of taking sides based on religion or ethnicity. Thank you. Please stay as you are & don’t be deterred by those who seem to always want war.

    I attended Fordson as a teenager. It was a great school then and I can only hope it will continue to be.

    Loral Orow on August 5, 2011 at 4:21 pm

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