Former Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Christie Whitbeck dropped one of two claims against the district and several board members in her lawsuit filed in December, according to a district news release.
Former Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Christie Whitbeck dropped one of two claims against the district and several board members in her lawsuit filed in December, according to a district news release.In a nutshell
Although Whitbeck dropped the defamation claim Jan. 3, she maintains her allegation that the district breached the Voluntary Retirement Agreement, or VRA, she signed prior to her departure last December, according to the release.
“We are pleased Dr. Whitbeck now understands she should not have sued the trustees and the district for defamation and has voluntarily agreed to drop her defamation claims against all of them,” board President Kristin Tassin said in the release. “But we regret that Dr. Whitbeck has chosen not to dismiss her breach of contract claim against the district and look forward to the opportunity to brief the court as to why the remaining claim must also be dismissed.”
Zooming in
The Dec. 3 lawsuit previously alleged the former board President Judy Dae and current trustees David Hamilton and Sonya Jones made disparaging remarks that damaged Whitbeck’s professional reputation.
The lawsuit alleged the board members made various defamatory claims, including that Whitbeck withheld the district’s special education noncompliance status until after her annual review, made disrespectful and racist comments about the board members, and that the retirement was not voluntary, Community Impact previously reported.
The lawsuit previously sought for Dae, Hamilton and Jones’ comments to be clarified, corrected or retracted.
The details
On Dec. 9, the 434th judicial court accepted the district's motion to dismiss the defamation claims on the basis that the individual board members were protected by the district as a government entity, according to Fort Bend County court records. A hearing was scheduled Jan. 8 to amend the lawsuit, but Whitbeck’s lawyers dismissed the defamation claims on Jan. 3.
The VRA portion of the lawsuit is still active, per district officials.
As part of the VRA, the board published a joint statement in December 2023 announcing Whitbeck’s retirement, paid her full salary and benefits through her retirement, and awarded Whitbeck a severance of $352,024, Community Impact reported.
However, Whitbeck’s attorney, Chris Tritico, couldn’t be reached to comment on how the defamation claims will affect the basis for VRA violation.
The context
During the December 2023 board meeting, Whitbeck claimed she was “blindsided” after being asked to retire following the district’s voter-approval tax rate election a month prior. The request would come two years before her end contract date of December 2026 and shortly after receiving a 2% raise in July 2023.
Whitbeck had served as superintendent of the district since 2021. In January 2024, the board hired Superintendent Marc Smith to fill the position.
In a Dec. 5 statement, the district’s legal counsel said they would request the dismissal of the lawsuit and reimbursement of legal fees from Whitbeck.
Next steps
Without comment from Whitbeck’s lawyers, it’s unclear how the plaintiff plans to move forward on the claims the district violated the VRA.
The details
On Dec. 9, the 434th judicial court accepted the district's motion to dismiss the defamation claims on the basis that the individual board members were protected by the district as a government entity, according to Fort Bend County court records. A hearing was scheduled Jan. 8 to amend the lawsuit, but Whitbeck’s lawyers dismissed the defamation claimsJan. 3.
The VRA portion of the lawsuit is still active, per district officials.
As part of the VRA, the board published a joint statement in December 2023 announcing Whitbeck’s retirement, paid her full salary and benefits through her retirement, and awarded Whitbeck a severance of $352,024, Community Impact reported.
However, Whitbeck’s attorney, Chris Tritico, couldn’t be reached to comment on how the defamation claims will affect the basis for VRA violation.
The context
During the December 2023 board meeting, Whitbeck claimed she was “blindsided” after being asked to retire following the district’s voter-approval tax rate election a month prior. The request would come two years before her end contract date of December 2026 and shortly after receiving a 2% raise in July 2023.
Whitbeck had served as superintendent of the district since 2021. In January 2024, the board hired Superintendent Marc Smith to fill the position.
In a Dec. 5 statement, the district’s legal counsel said they would request the dismissal of the lawsuit and reimbursement of legal fees from Whitbeck.
Next steps
Without comment from Whitbeck’s lawyers, it’s unclear how the plaintiff plans to move forward on the claims the district violated the VRA.
