Jury Finds School District Liable in Hostile Environment Case
A federal jury has ruled against the Quillayute Valley School District in a lawsuit filed by a former cross-country coach, awarding her damages for a hostile work environment claim.
The eight-person jury returned its decision on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 8, 2026, following a multi-day trial presided over by Judge Benjamin H. Settle. After the judge delivered final instructions and attorneys for both sides presented closing arguments, deliberations commenced at 12:37 PM. The jury signaled it had reached a conclusion by 4:15 PM, and the verdict was formally read in open court in Tacoma at 5:04 PM.
Breaking Down the Verdict
The trial placed the district’s internal disciplinary procedures under federal scrutiny, requiring school leadership to publicly address their management of harassment and boundary violation allegations. According to the official verdict form, the jury determined that the plaintiff was subjected to a hostile work environment in violation of the Washington Law Against Discrimination. Consequently, the jury awarded her $250,000 in actual damages.
The jury did not find the district liable for retaliation against the plaintiff. Additionally, the jury determined that neither the veteran coach accused of the conduct nor the Title IX Coordinator were liable for claims involving negligent supervision or retention regarding their handling of the matter.
While the jury awarded $250,000 in damages, it also concluded that the plaintiff failed to mitigate her losses, resulting in a $240 reduction to the final settlement amount.