$200k Jury Award to Teacher

A Mississippi jury has awarded a a former teacher at the state's school for the deaf more than $200,000. Melissa Ross says her dismissal from the Mississippi School for the Deaf in 2007 was racial discrimination. She was awarded $40,000 in back pay along with $165,000 in pain and suffering. However, jurors rejected her claim that the Mississippi Department of Education retaliated against her because she was taking part in an EEOC investigation. Her case had been moved from state court to federal court. The Mississippi Department of Education said it was disappointed with the verdict and was weighig its options.