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Rio Hondo prof files free speech suit
Fire technology instructor gets burned by administration
As a former firefighter and labor leader, Dan Coffman is no stranger to turmoil on the job. But nothing in his previous career, or in his position as president of the Los Angeles County Firefighters Association, prepared him for the politically charged atmosphere of his life in academe.
 Dan Coffman
Reacting to what he contends is an atmosphere of intimidation and backstabbing in which his free speech rights were violated, Coffman has filed suit against Rio Hondo College, where he has been a faculty member since 1995. Filed in August, the legal complaint against the college seeks an apology, the removal of a letter of reprimand in his personnel file, and damages for violation of both his free speech and due process rights under the U.S. Constitution.
Comments in public meeting
The suit stems from an incident in August 2000, in which Coffman, as a longtime member of the California State Board of Fire Services, commented on the way his college had handled the preparation of an online fire technology course, during a public meeting of the fire services board.
Coffman, who had served on the state policy-making board since his appointment by former Gov. George Deukmejian in 1984, had concerns about the implementation of a statewide online course he had helped design. Shortly after, he was issued a letter of reprimand for having made his comments, and he found that classes that he had taught for years and overload assignments were taken away. Coffman has lost $8,000 in wages as a result of the elimination of his overload classes, according to the lawsuit, and there is no end in sight to the retaliation he faces. Coffman is alarmed that the college would attempt to discipline him for comments he made in his public role on a state advisory board.
Beyond labor issues
"This goes beyond labor union issues. This is something we can't allow to happen," he said. Coffman observed that the college's actions is also in violation of Ed Code Section 87039, which makes it a misdemeanor to discipline a community college employee for speaking at a public board meeting.
One of the people charged in the complaint, former Rio Hondo President, Jess Carreon, has since left his position for a college presidency up in Oregon, but that doesn't diminish Coffman's quest for justice. His suit also names Dean Barry Dineen, Vice-President Vioza Arnold and the college Director of Human Resources, Ron Cataraha.
"I want that letter removed, an apology and I want them to pay me for the money I've lost. And I want a commitment that they won't do it again, to me or any other member of the faculty. These are my demands. If I have to go to court to make it happen, I'll make it happen," Coffman said.
Lawsuit filed
Although Coffman had initially filed a grievance, after legal consultation with a CCA/CTA Group Legal Services attorney, it was determined that the administrative remedies could not provide any meaningful relief. Instead, Coffman, joined by his Rio Hondo Faculty Association, filed suit. Coffman has the full support of Rio Hondo College Faculty Association President John Parra, who noted that, according to legal counsel, the college violated both the First Amendment and its own academic freedom policy.
"This is a serious issue and it can affect the climate across our campus," said Parra. He observed that this type of action can have a chilling effect on faculty members. Parra said that although the former president moved on, Coffman has the right to pursue a legal remedy.
Parra said that Coffman has been influential both on the state board and as a faculty member in the college's fire technology program where he had coordinated the program and obtained $1 million grant.
"But, there's a bigger issue here, and that has to do with freedom of speech," Parra said. "This is an issue that affects educators everywhere." |
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