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The $10 million verdict issued last week<\/a> against Fort Worth\u2019s Trinity Valley School is distracting and unsettling, Head of School Ben Courchesne said in a statement emailed to parents Tuesday.<\/p>\n A jury in federal court decided last Friday that Trinity Valley should pay that sum to plaintiff Carrie Skains, who served as the private school\u2019s human resources director for over a decade, according to court records.<\/p>\n The jury found Skains was entitled to the money because the school defamed and retaliated against her after she reported sex discrimination in the workplace.<\/p>\n \u201cTrinity Valley has received the jury\u2019s decision, and the Board is reviewing the outcome with counsel and with the school\u2019s insurance providers,\u201d Courchesne wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile developments like this can be distracting for members of our community \u2014 unsettling, even \u2014 we will continue to approach our responsibilities with the care and seriousness they deserve, and with a steadfast commitment to accountability and transparency,\u201d the statement reads.<\/p>\n The verdict is eligible for an appeal.<\/p>\n \u201cWe brought this case because employers are under no obligation to make public statements about an employee, but when they choose to, those statements must be truthful,\u201d Skains\u2019 attorney Walt Taylor said. \u201cIf Trinity Valley School or other employers can do this to their Director of Human Resources, who can\u2019t they do it to?\u201d<\/p>\n Related Stories from Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n