'Little Eichmanns' Prof Wins Case, Is Awarded One Dollar
A controversial former ethnic studies professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder has won his wrongful dismissal case against his former employer after a state court jury apparently found that Ward Churchill’s termination was because of his political views. But the jury awarded Churchill only $1 in damages.
Nonetheless, the $1 award means that the university likely will have to pay Churchill’s attorney fees, the Associated Press reports. And Churchill, 61, could still be reinstated to his job by Chief Denver District Judge Larry Naves, who has yet to decide this issue, according to the New York Times.
Both sides proclaimed at least a partial victory after news of the jury verdict this afternoon:
“I didn’t ask for money, I asked for justice,” Churchill said when questioned about the $1 award, adding that he expects to get his job back. “Reinstatement would follow rather, nicely, wouldn’t you say?” he asked rhetorically.
A university spokesman describes the $1 award as “some vindication” and says Colorado will oppose reinstatement, the newspaper reports.
Churchill was reviled for a Sept. 12, 2001 essay in which he described financial workers at the center of the World Trade Center terrorist attack the previous day as “little Eichmanns,” referring to the Nazi leader Adolf Eichmann, one of the architects of the Holocaust, the Times recounts.
At issue in the trial was whether Churchill was unlawfully dismissed for his political views, or, as the university claimed, because he had falsified and plagiarized his academic work.
Additional coverage:
9News (NBC): “Churchill wins case, $1 in damages “
Colorado Daily (March 31): “Judge dismisses one of Churchill’s two claims”
