Ruling ahead in ex-teacher’s lawsuit

Circuit Court Judge Cordell Maddox told attorneys today they can expect a ruling on whether a former teacher’s lawsuit may go forward in the Oconee Common Pleas Court. Former R-C Edwards Junior High teacher Mariam Noorai’s allegations of harassment, defamation and conspiracy are contained in what now is a three-year old lawsuit against the Pickens and Oconee public school districts and five of their employees. Today Maddox entertained summary judgment motions on behalf of defendants in the case. The judge said he wants to read the file containing affidavits and pre-trial depositions and will announce his ruling to the parties in two weeks when he is in Anderson where he keeps office as circuit judge at-large. According to her attorney, Paul Aaron, Noorai claims she was forced to resign her teaching job at R-C Edwards and that a conspiracy prevented her from getting another job in Oconee County. But an attorney for the Pickens County School District told the judge there’s a “complete lack of proof” in the seven causes of actions the plaintiff cites against her former employer.