By Heija Nunn

On Tuesday March 26, my phone rang, The verdict was in. By the time I pushed my way through the courtroom doors, the jury was seated and, just like on TV, the judge asked the jury if they had reached a verdict.

He took the form from the jury foreperson and reviewed the multi-page document. After polling the jurors individually as to whether this verdict reflected their own opinions he read the decision.

Question 1: With regards to the plaintiff’s first claim, do you find that defendant’s engaged in an adverse employment action and that plaintiff’s race and/or national origin was a substantial factor in such adverse employment action?

Answer: Yes

I squeezed the hand of my friend and former Medina city council member. We joined others in weeping quietly as the judge continued to read the verdict findings for the plaintiff, former Medina Police Chief Jeffrey Chen in all four of his claims against the city.

But that was not all the jury decided. The jury also had to decide whether the city had proven its claimed defenses through clear and convincing evidence. The court asked the jury to weigh whether the city had proven that it would have placed Chief Chen on administrative leave, forced his resignation or discharged him even if race or national origin had not been a factor. The jury was unconvinced, they said no.

Further the jury of eight neutral strangers went on to decide that the city had violated Chief Chen’s constitutional right to substantive due process and that the actions of City Manager Donna Hanson warranted charges of punitive damages against her personally because they found that her actions were “malicious, oppressive or in reckless disregard of plaintiff’s rights.”

The jury awarded Chen about $2 million in back pay and other damages on all of his claims. Also, Hanson was ordered to pay Chen $25,000 in punitive damages.

And yet the city is surprised by the verdict, seemingly shocked, and issued a statement saying, in part, “While it is unfortunate that this isn’t over, we look forward to moving beyond this issue once justice has been served.”

Based on the city’s statement, recipients might believe that the entire city of Medina government, as well as employees and residents, believe that the Chinese guy winning his federal court case means that justice has not been served.

I disagree, and I know I am not the only one.

Chief Chen lost his job and his reputation purportedly because of a collection of soundly refuted allegations. I sincerely hope that the seven elected officials of Medina immediately work harder to embody, represent and uphold the laws of justice in our country than to support an employment and government environment that endorses racial discrimination and separation.

The reputation of our city is in the hands of seven people; it only takes four wise voices to begin the process necessary to heal our city’s broken government and damaged reputation. The question for Medina City Council members is whether or not the city of Medina should allow and endorse racial discrimination and malicious oppressive leadership.

What will be their verdict?

Heija Nunn is a columnist for Eastside Scene magazine. She lives in Medina.