The Region : Jury Awards Fired Teacher $2.5 Million

Federal court jurors awarded $2.5 million to a teacher of handicapped students who charged that she was fired from her job at Camarillo State Hospital because she is black. The jury also ruled that the state must rehire her. Betty Andrews, 54, who now teaches at a private clinic in Los Angeles, said hospital administrators cited 15 incidents of misconduct--such as not reporting a student’s theft of a candy bar--in firing her four years ago. She argued that the dismissal was unjustified and was motivated by racial prejudice. Michael Mount, senior staff counsel for the state Department of Developmental Services, said the state had yet to decide whether to appeal.