Lawsuit court date postponed
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

Circuit Court Judge Roger Couch has postponed the trial date for a wrongful termination lawsuit that former maintenance worker Fred Knowles has filed against the Cherokee County School District.

Knowles was fired from his job with the maintenance department last fall following an altercation with supervisor John Burchstead. Knowles, the husband of Cherokee County School Board trustee Amanda Knowles, worked for the school district for 12 years.

Knowles sued the school district last November, claiming breach of contract, violation of due process and public policy.

Knowles' lawsuit was originally set for a jury trial in the court term that begins Nov. 26. Attorneys for Knowles and the school district requested Couch move the trial date to the next jury term of court because depositions in the case have not been completed.

A continuance order signed by Couch was filed Nov. 9 in the Cherokee County Courthouse.

In his lawsuit, Knowles claims he was fired without good cause by the school district for the purpose of interfering with his exercise of political rights. Knowles claims he was denied due process when the district refused to provide an appeal hearing before an impartial decision maker and refused to allow witnesses with important information to attend.

Cherokee County Superintendent Dr. Bill James has said he based his decision to uphold Knowles' firing on Knowles' admission that he tape recorded a meeting with Burchstead, without Burchstead's knowledge or consent.

An amended complaint filed by Knowles' attorney Andrew Arnold claims that the district's decision to fire Knowles for tape recording the meeting violates public policy because public employees were discussing matters of public concern.

The final depositions in the case are currently scheduled for late November.