Attempts to resolve one employment-related lawsuit against the Cherokee County School District in an outof court setting apparently proved fruitless.

An almost seven-hour mediation session between attorneys for Fred Knowles and the district was held April 25 before mediator Danny C. Crowe, of Turner Padget Graham & Laney in Columbia.

A report filed with the Cherokee County Clerk of Courts Office by the mediator last week shows the case should be considered "at an impasse."

Officially, the two sides talked for 6.9 hours, according to the document, and the mediator's fees amounted to $2,070 plus $72.73 in costs.

Among those listed as present for the session were school board member Amanda Knowles, who is the wife of Fred Knowles, and Cherokee County School District Superintendent Dr. Bill James.

Knowles initially was suspended and subsequently fired in October 2006 following a verbal altercation with his supervisor in the district's maintenance department.

The verbal altercation followed an August 2006 incident in which Knowles audiotaped a meeting of the maintenance staff during which the staff discussed negative publicity about the department that had appeared in the newspaper.

Knowles later sued the district for wrongful termination, contending violation of public policy, denial of due process and breach of contract. The district's attorneys were seeking dismissal of the lawsuit, arguing Knowles was a nonclassified employee and, therefore, was considered at-will.

A hearing on the district's motion to dismiss the lawsuit was held in early March. There have been no filings yet to indicate if a ruling has been made.

The case is scheduled to go to court June 9.