School district attorneys will ask judge to dismiss Fred Knowles' lawsuit
HEARING SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

A court hearing will be held March 3 on the Cherokee County School District's request to dismiss a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by former maintenance worker Fred Knowles.

Knowles was fired from his job of 12 years with the maintenance department last fall following an altercation with supervisor John Burchstead.

Knowles is the husband of Cherokee County School Board member Amanda Knowles. He sued the school district in November, claiming breach of contract, violation of due process and public policy.

District attorneys Andrea White and April Sampson requested Circuit Court Judge Derham Cole rule on their motion for a summary judgment before the trial. The lawsuit would be heard the first week of April if it is allowed to move ahead.

In its motion, the district contends there was no breach of contract since Knowles was fired for good cause and given a hearing before he was terminated by the district.

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

The district argues there is no public policy that prevents firing an employee for secretly audiotaping an employment meeting. District attorneys claim Knowles cannot recover damages for an alleged Freedom of Information Act violation.

The district contends there is no evidence to support Knowles' claim that his political rights were violated while he was employed by the school district.

White and Sampson claim Knowles was given due process because he was allowed to testify and present witnesses on his behalf. Attorneys contend that during the district hearing, Knowles was allowed to cross-examine witnesses who provided information against him.

The school district has made a motion to dismiss several claims in a separate lawsuit filed by Joel Greene, the son of school trustee Sandra Greene, who lost his maintenance job with the district after a DUI arrest last year.

Joel Greene filed a lawsuit against the school district, claiming his firing was politically motivated.

Joel Greene claims in the suit filed Dec. 18 that he was set up by school board member Amanda Knowles in retaliation for her husband, Fred, being fired from the district's maintenance department last October.

Joel Greene claims breach of contract, Constitution violations and wrongful termination.

In the school district's motion, White and Sampson contend the state provides teachers with contractual and property rights that are not provided to classified employees such as Greene.

No court hearing has been scheduled on the district's motion in the Greene lawsuit.