Given the latest efforts in Texas and Florida (and elsewhere) to push religious views into the science classroom, I thought it might be helpful to remind everyone of this blood curdling story.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nDover gets a million-dollar bill<\/strong>
\nThat’s $1M less than what law firm says it’s owed<\/em>
\nCHRISTINA KAUFFMAN <\/strong>The York Dispatch<\/em>
\nArticle Last Updated: 02\/22\/2006 12:29:04 PM EST<\/em><\/p>\nLegal fees for thousands of hours of attorney services and a six-week trial: $1 million.<\/p>\n
Damages paid to 11 parents whose rights were violated in the Dover Area School District: $1 each.<\/p>\n
A sense of closure: Priceless.<\/p>\n
The Dover Area School Board voted last night to pay $1,000,011 in legal fees and damages for parents who successfully sued the district for teaching intelligent design in ninth-grade biology classes.<\/p>\n
The district — ultimately, its taxpayers — must pay the fees because a federal judge ruled that the policy to require mentioning intelligent design was religiously motivated and violated the Constitution.<\/p>\n
…<\/p>\n
Pepper Hamilton attorney Eric Rothschild, who handled much of the case, said yesterday that court records will show the parents’ attorneys were entitled to more than $2 million, though they will accept less than half that amount.<\/p>\n
… He said the higher amount “is meant as a deterrent to other government actors who might consider violating the Constitution by teaching religious views in science class.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n