Former Logan teacher's lawsuit dismissed after settlement

A longstanding whistleblower and retaliation lawsuit by a former Logan Municipal Schools teacher and coach against the district’s superintendent recently was dismissed after a settlement was reached, the ex-teacher’s lawyer said.

District Judge Donna Mowrer of Portales on April 25 dismissed Rhyan Daugherty’s lawsuit against Logan superintendent Dennis Roch with prejudice, which means the ruling is final and the suit cannot be refiled. The original judge in the case, Albert Mitchell Jr., recused himself.

Daugherty’s attorney, Warren Frost of Logan, said last week the case had been settled after both parties were ordered by Mowrer to enter into a settlement conference.

“We’re pleased with the settlement,” Frost said. He did not elaborate, citing a confidentiality provision.

During a May 2021 trial that ended in a hung jury, Frost had requested $192,730 in pay estimated after Daugherty was fired in April 2017, plus $300,000 for emotional distress.

An email to Roch’s attorney, Andrea Robeda of the YLAW firm in Albuquerque, that requested comment was not answered.

The Quay County Sun, citing open-records laws, requested a copy of the settlement from the Logan school district.

The settlement ends a five-year saga where court proceedings were slowed by legal motions and the COVID-19 pandemic. It included a trial where jurors voted 9-3 in favor of Daugherty, one short of his winning the case.

Frost said hung juries in civil cases are rare.

“It was an unusual case,” Frost said.

Daugherty accused of Roch improperly firing him under pressure from Logan math teacher Dallas Valentine after Daugherty reported an allegation he had heard she was having an inappropriate relationship with a student.

New Mexico State Police investigated and found no evidence such a relationship occurred.

The lawsuit claimed Valentine and her husband Jimmy Valentine spent months harassing Daugherty, undermining him with school employees and demanding that Roch terminate Daugherty’s employment.

Frost argued in court that Daugherty’s fate was decided during a school board meeting in January 2017 attended by the Valentines and Logan rancher Jay Cammack, who directed their anger at Roch and Daugherty.

“That’s the night Mr. Daugherty got fired,” Frost told the jury. “He got fired because Mr. Roch decided to save his own skin instead of protect his employee.”

Daugherty was informed on April 19, 2017, that he would not be rehired for the next school year.

Roch’s lawyers said Daugherty was fired because his students showed poor academic progress during his two years with the district.

Frost countered in court by noting Daugherty had ratings of “effective” and “highly effective” that were submitted to the New Mexico Public Education Department the same year he was fired.

Frost said Daugherty now is coaching girls basketball in Olney, Texas, and “doing great.”

“He’s glad to move on with his life,” Frost added.

The Olney Enterprise newspaper reported the district hired Daugherty in early May, and he persuaded former Melrose girls basketball coach Caleb King to be his assistant.

King’s Lady Buffaloes beat Daugherty’s Lady Longhorns in the state finals 48-47 in 2016.