Help Randy Burgess Legal Bills

We are asking once again for your action in support of Randy.

CUSD plans to hurt Randy financially by asking the court to order him to pay over $25,000 for attorney’s fees for defending himself and his reputation.

Many of you signed the Petition of Reinstatement back in October 2017.

We now ask for you to consider a pledge to help mitigate the pending financial burden this process has brought on Randy and his family.

A fund has been created and can be accessed at GoFundMe (gf.me/u/vt9q34).

Any amount you can pledge to our fundraising goal of $25,000 will be greatly appreciated. We need everyone’s participation to show the depth and strength of Randy’s support.

Please note that any amount pledged will be reimbursed 100% if not needed.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

And for your steadfast support in standing with Randy.
 

What has happened:

After 30 years of service to his students and athletes, CUSD suspended Randy without cause. He was forced to go to court to get his job back when CUSD would not commit to an end date for the suspension or give him any means to defend himself.


Hundreds of you rallied to Randy’s side by signing the Petition for reinstatement . Many of you came to the Board Meeting  and demanded reinstatement. Thank you. Your support did much to help Randy through these very dark times.


The court declined to order the reinstatement on the technicality that this form of suspension did not fit within the Education Code or union contract which would have required the school prove good cause for the suspension. The court accepted CUSD’s promise it would not seek any form of discipline against Randy. As a result, the court reasoned these procedures did not apply since CUSD continued to pay Randy’s salary and no form of discipline would be imposed.


Randy has now found out, after the case was over, that CUSD was untruthful. In actuality, CUSD was secretly asking the State to revoke Randy’s credential during the same time CUSD was falsely telling the judge it would not take any form of disciplinary action.  


While CUSD eventually ended the suspension, it did so without any exoneration. Nor did CUSD issue a statement there was no basis for any claims against Randy. This form of reinstatement did nothing to bring closure to the baseless claim which caused his suspension.  


Left without any other way to clear his damaged reputation, Randy filed a libel case against CUSD based on media statements that CUSD was concerned Randy was a danger to students.  The statement was false. CUSD knew, like we all know, Randy was no danger to students.  CUSD knew the statement was false because it admitted Randy was removed from the classroom as a litigation tactic. The Superintendent also testified Randy was not a danger to students.


Unfortunately, the court dismissed the libel case under the strict rules which apply because of free speech rights. CUSD convinced the judge it had a First Amendment right to make this statement even though it was false.  


Randy had to retire this summer for medical reasons tied to a heart attack he suffered brought on by the stress caused by this situation.


Now -- even after pressuring Randy to retire and damaging his health -- CUSD plans to hurt him financially by asking the court to order Randy to pay over $25,000 for attorney’s fees for defending himself and his reputation.