Originally written and publihsed
by Maura Larkin
The San Diego Education Report
March 10, 2012
"A year ago, Daniel Shinoff,
prominent attorney the the San Marcos USD, needled me (Maura Larkin) for raising the dark
questions that pounded my skull like a migraine. 'being the mensch you are, he wrote, I am confident you will extend your
apologies to this fine educational community when the truth comes out in
court.' Well, Mr. Shinoff, the truth hasn’t come out in court. Only
the District's dollars."
Is San Marcos Unified School District tacitly admitting responsibility by way of the $4.75 million judgement the court has ordered for Scotty Eveland's injuries. Why didn't they settle with the Eveland family in the first place? It's mind-boggling to think how much the school district paid its lawyers to attend over 300 depositions, countless motions, and trial preparations. A Million? More? That money should have gone to the Eveland family! So why the charade? The school board and administrators should rethink their attitude toward students and their families--and to the public at large.
The school district's insurance premiums are going to go up as a result of this case--and the taxpayers will be stuck with those increased bills for many years to come.
Was attorney Danielle Shinoff working for the public good, or was he working to protect a specific coach who had made a catastrophically bad decision? Was he also working to protect other individuals in power in San Marcos Unified School District? Would the school district have been better off to settle with Scott Eveland years ago? We're pretty sure Shinoff's coffers are much the better off for convincing the school board to fight. But Why?
Is this really how the public wants lawyers to behave when they are supposedly working for the public?
See all Maura Laurkins posts regarding the Scott Eveland case.
the Sand Diego, Union-Times
by Logan Jenkins
Is San Marcos Unified School District tacitly admitting responsibility by way of the $4.75 million judgement the court has ordered for Scotty Eveland's injuries. Why didn't they settle with the Eveland family in the first place? It's mind-boggling to think how much the school district paid its lawyers to attend over 300 depositions, countless motions, and trial preparations. A Million? More? That money should have gone to the Eveland family! So why the charade? The school board and administrators should rethink their attitude toward students and their families--and to the public at large.
The school district's insurance premiums are going to go up as a result of this case--and the taxpayers will be stuck with those increased bills for many years to come.
Was attorney Danielle Shinoff working for the public good, or was he working to protect a specific coach who had made a catastrophically bad decision? Was he also working to protect other individuals in power in San Marcos Unified School District? Would the school district have been better off to settle with Scott Eveland years ago? We're pretty sure Shinoff's coffers are much the better off for convincing the school board to fight. But Why?
Is this really how the public wants lawyers to behave when they are supposedly working for the public?
See all Maura Laurkins posts regarding the Scott Eveland case.
the Sand Diego, Union-Times
by Logan Jenkins
March 9, 2012
There is no shame. Only dollars.
Nearly a year ago, I started a column with a personal anxiety:
“My biggest fear about Eveland vs. San Marcos Unified School District is that the lawsuit will be settled without a full accounting before a jury.”
On Friday, that worry was realized following a phony Kabuki dance that no one ever expected to lead to a jury trial.
In a matter of minutes, the financial terms of the 11th-hour settlement were announced — and a curtain of silence descended.
The two sides, which argued diametrically opposed accounts of what happened to Scotty Eveland, agreed not to “disparage” the other and to “refrain from rehashing the disputed allegations.”
There is no blame. Only a relatively paltry $4.375 million (minus hefty attorney fees and accrued medical liens), doled out by a remote insurance company.
There’s no lesson. Only a joint statement that appears to have been crafted by Mary Poppins on behalf of the San Marcos school district.
There’s no suggestion, the joint statement says, that “professional and hardworking coaches, athletic trainers, administrators and staff of the Mission Hills High School intentionally contributed to the unfortunate and tragic accident that occurred during a high-school football game (italics mine).”
Mind you, no one ever alleged that Scotty Eveland’s Mission Hills coach, Chris Hauser, intentionally inflicted a life-changing brain injury upon his second-string middle linebacker.
What was alleged, assuming witnesses were telling the truth, was a “catastrophic error of judgment” to send Eveland into the game, in the words of the neurosurgeon who operated upon Eveland after he collapsed on the field.
Also alleged was a conspiracy to cover up the coach’s alleged decision when Eveland’s headache allegedly was so severe he couldn’t focus on the ball.
Given the unavoidable conclusion that some of the players in this tragedy have lied through their teeth — either plaintiff witnesses or school employees — then is a reckoning on behalf of all young athletes too much to ask?
There is no shame. Only dollars.
Nearly a year ago, I started a column with a personal anxiety:
“My biggest fear about Eveland vs. San Marcos Unified School District is that the lawsuit will be settled without a full accounting before a jury.”
On Friday, that worry was realized following a phony Kabuki dance that no one ever expected to lead to a jury trial.
In a matter of minutes, the financial terms of the 11th-hour settlement were announced — and a curtain of silence descended.
The two sides, which argued diametrically opposed accounts of what happened to Scotty Eveland, agreed not to “disparage” the other and to “refrain from rehashing the disputed allegations.”
There is no blame. Only a relatively paltry $4.375 million (minus hefty attorney fees and accrued medical liens), doled out by a remote insurance company.
There’s no lesson. Only a joint statement that appears to have been crafted by Mary Poppins on behalf of the San Marcos school district.
There’s no suggestion, the joint statement says, that “professional and hardworking coaches, athletic trainers, administrators and staff of the Mission Hills High School intentionally contributed to the unfortunate and tragic accident that occurred during a high-school football game (italics mine).”
Mind you, no one ever alleged that Scotty Eveland’s Mission Hills coach, Chris Hauser, intentionally inflicted a life-changing brain injury upon his second-string middle linebacker.
What was alleged, assuming witnesses were telling the truth, was a “catastrophic error of judgment” to send Eveland into the game, in the words of the neurosurgeon who operated upon Eveland after he collapsed on the field.
Also alleged was a conspiracy to cover up the coach’s alleged decision when Eveland’s headache allegedly was so severe he couldn’t focus on the ball.
Given the unavoidable conclusion that some of the players in this tragedy have lied through their teeth — either plaintiff witnesses or school employees — then is a reckoning on behalf of all young athletes too much to ask?
Evidently so.
There is no shame nor contrition. Only $ dollars.
The two sides, which argued diametrically opposed accounts of what happened to Scotty Eveland, agreed not to “disparage” the other and to “refrain from rehashing the disputed allegations.” There is no (assignment of) blame. Only a relatively paltry $4.375 million (minus hefty attorney fees and accrued medical liens), doled out by a remote (indifferent) insurance company.
There’s no lesson. Only a joint statement that appears to have been crafted by Mary Poppins on behalf of the San Marcos school district. There’s no suggestion, the joint statement says, that professional and hardworking coaches, athletic trainers, administrators and staff of the Mission Hills High School intentionally contributed to the unfortunate and tragic accident that occurred during a high-school football game.
Mind you, no one ever alleged that Scotty Eveland’s Mission Hills coach, Chris Hauser, intentionally inflicted a life-changing brain injury upon his second-string middle linebacker.
What was alleged, assuming witnesses were telling the truth, was a “catastrophic error of judgment” to send Eveland into the game, in the words of the neurosurgeon who operated upon Eveland after he collapsed on the field.
Also alleged was a conspiracy to cover up the coach’s alleged decision when Eveland’s headache allegedly was so severe he couldn’t focus on the ball. Given the unavoidable conclusion that some of the football players in this tragedy have lied through their teeth — either plaintiff, witnesses or school employees — then is a reckoning to come for a Student atheletes, coaches, and others? No once again, only Dollars bearing no witness and no standard.
The two sides, which argued diametrically opposed accounts of what happened to Scotty Eveland, agreed not to “disparage” the other and to “refrain from rehashing the disputed allegations.” There is no (assignment of) blame. Only a relatively paltry $4.375 million (minus hefty attorney fees and accrued medical liens), doled out by a remote (indifferent) insurance company.
There’s no lesson. Only a joint statement that appears to have been crafted by Mary Poppins on behalf of the San Marcos school district. There’s no suggestion, the joint statement says, that professional and hardworking coaches, athletic trainers, administrators and staff of the Mission Hills High School intentionally contributed to the unfortunate and tragic accident that occurred during a high-school football game.
Mind you, no one ever alleged that Scotty Eveland’s Mission Hills coach, Chris Hauser, intentionally inflicted a life-changing brain injury upon his second-string middle linebacker.
What was alleged, assuming witnesses were telling the truth, was a “catastrophic error of judgment” to send Eveland into the game, in the words of the neurosurgeon who operated upon Eveland after he collapsed on the field.
Also alleged was a conspiracy to cover up the coach’s alleged decision when Eveland’s headache allegedly was so severe he couldn’t focus on the ball. Given the unavoidable conclusion that some of the football players in this tragedy have lied through their teeth — either plaintiff, witnesses or school employees — then is a reckoning to come for a Student atheletes, coaches, and others? No once again, only Dollars bearing no witness and no standard.
The prospects for healthcare reform may be chillier than DC weather, but Democrats in the House and Senate are turning their attention to another warmer but still significant national issue: the increasing number of runaway and throwaway youth who are being forced into prostitution. In response to the growing concerns that desperate, runaway teens will be forced into prostitution in a sluggish economy, Congress is pushing several bills to improve how runaway kids are tracked by the police, fund crucial social services, and prevent teens from being caught in sex trafficking. Here's the gist of what the new legislation is trying to accomplish:
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