According to a recent press release, on Sept. 3, the Morris Public Schools Board of Education approved a settlement agreement to resolve a lawsuit involving allegations of sexual harassment by a former employee, Dallas Ewton.
The lawsuit, pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, stemmed from accusations against Ewton, who had already pleaded guilty to three felony counts involving the plaintiff in July 2022.
The board’s decision to settle was influenced by the potential financial risks associated with a jury trial. By opting for a settlement, the board aimed to protect the district’s students, employees, and taxpayers from a potentially substantial financial burden.
The press release intended to emphasize the district’s commitment to transparency and expressed hope that the settlement would bring some closure to the community, allowing the district to “move forward with a renewed focus on its educational mission.”
— Official Press Release
At a special meeting held on September 3, 2024, the Morris Public Schools Board of Education voted to approve a settlement agreement with respect to a lawsuit involving a former student which is currently pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Davenport v. Independent School District No. 3 of Okmulgee County, et al., Case No. 21-CV-305-JAR.
The lawsuit arose out of allegations of sexual harassment of a student by a former employee of the School District, Dallas Ewton. Before the above-referenced civil lawsuit began, Mr. Ewton was charged with criminal misconduct, and in July of 2022, while the civil case was ongoing, Mr. Ewton pleaded guilty to three felony counts involving the Plaintiff in the civil case and another student who was not involved in the civil case.
After the completion of substantial discovery in the civil lawsuit, and after receiving certain pretrial rulings from the Court regarding issues related to the trial, the parties participated in a private mediation to facilitate discussions regarding a potential settlement. That process ultimately resulted in a tentative agreement to settle the civil case, which the Board of Education later approved after consulting with the District’s attorneys.
The School District denies any liability to the Plaintiff under state or federal law as a result of the allegations giving rise to the case, as a result of the alleged conduct of Mr. Ewton or otherwise. However, the School District’s administration and Board of Education are also cognizant of their duty to students, employees, and taxpayers to act as a good steward of the District and the public funds upon which it relies to operate. Based on the nature of the allegations in the case, Dallas Ewton’s guilty plea, and the resulting potential exposure associated with an adverse verdict at trial, the Board, after consultation with its legal counsel, determined that proceeding with a jury trial in the case carried an unjustifiable risk of an adverse verdict that could have imposed a much more substantial financial burden on the School District than the proposed settlement. Such an outcome could have come with an even greater cost to both the taxpayers of the Morris School District and the students who the School District serves. After thorough consideration, the Board determined that approval of the settlement agreement was in the overall best interest of the School District’s constituents and students, as well as the community as a whole.
This press release has been issued by the Board in the interest of providing members of the public with as much transparency as possible regarding the Board’s reasons for approving the settlement. The Board and the School District’s administration hope that the conclusion of the litigation will provide the community with closure regarding this situation and allow the School District to move forward with a renewed focus on its educational mission.
