$375K paid to parents of children injured by former Mason teacher

POINT PLEASANT – The Mason County Board of Education has paid $375,000 to the parents of two Bend-area elementary school students who allege they suffered injuries from improper discipline by their teacher.

According to court records, a formal settlement was reached on July 28 and Sept. 22 in two suits filed against Katherine Parrish, a former New Haven Elementary School teacher. Robert Vaughan, in his capacity as principal of New Haven Elementary was named as a co-defendant.

In their respective suits, Melissa Dawn Fields and Angela Conley Wilson allege their sons, Conner and Jeremiah, were traumatized and injured when Parrish disciplined them on several occasions between August and December 2006.

Their suits allege Parrish went too far in disciplining the boys when she one at least one occasion slammed them down on the bleachers, and in another put them on a cot wrapped in a "body sock" and covered their faces to keep them quiet.

The suits, which were filed with the assistance of Matt Clark, with the Point Pleasant law firm of Kayser, Clark and Layne, allege the boys incurred medical bills for both their physical and mental pain and suffering.

Records show a tentative settlement was reached on June 18 through mediation. Following hearings on July 18 and Sept. 2, the Board agreed to settle Fields' suit for $175,000 and Wilson's for $200,000, respectfully.

According to the terms of the settlement, $112,000 of the $175,000 awarded to Fields would go into an annuity. Also, she would keep $3,181.65 to use for Connor's immediate benefit.

The remaining $63,000 would go to Wilson to pay Clark for his services. From the $63,000, records show $58,333.34 would go for attorney fees and remaining $1,485.01 for expenses.

In Wilson's case, $128,500 of the $175,000 would go into an irrevocable trust for Jeremiah. Records show $100 from the settlement was paid to WesBanco to manage the trust account.

After pocketing $1,817.55 for herself, Wilson was to pay the remaining $69,582.45 to Clark, of which $2,915.78 went to expenses.

Also, records show the Board of Risk and Insurance Management, the state's insurer, paid over $25,000 to attorneys representing Parrish and the Board.

According to BRIM, $10,267.40 was paid to Parrish's attorney Joanna Tabit, with the Charleston law firm of Steptoe and Johnson. Cheryl L. Connelly, with the Huntington law firm of Campbell Woods, was paid $15,722.49 for her services in representing the Board.
Finally, BRIM paid $1998 to Connie Fisher Thomas who served as guardian ad litem in both cases.

The West Virginia Record attempted to get a comment from Board President Tom Nunnery about the settlement. When contacted, Nunnery was not aware a settlement had been reached and deferred comment to Board Superintendent Larry A. Parsons.

However, Parsons did not return repeated messages for a comment.
As a result of the incident with the boys, who are now both five-years old, Parrish was fired on Jan. 18, 2007. A grievance Parrish filed disputing the firing was upheld at a Level IV hearing on July 9, 2007.

A month later, Parrish appealed the administrative law judge's decision to Mason Circuit Court. A decision in the case is still pending.

Mason Circuit Court case numbers 07-C-191 (Fields) and 192 (Wilson)