Ex-Superintendent Sues District, Board

Reed S. Montgomery, former superintendent of Laguna Beach schools, filed a lawsuit Monday against the district and its five board members, alleging that he was unfairly fired when he was dismissed in February after just seven months on the job.

The lawsuit, filed in Orange County Superior Court, alleges that the school board terminated his contract for no reason and denied him the right to a paid medical leave.

The suit also alleges that the board disclosed his confidential medical information to the news media, violated his right to privacy and damaged his reputation by publicly making false, negative comments about him. It seeks unspecified damages.

Montgomery had stated previously that he would sue for back pay and benefits, which he estimated at about $300,000.

Montgomery, reached at his Lake Arrowhead home, would not discuss the lawsuit. His lawyer could not be reached for comment.

A Laguna Beach Unified School District trustee predicted the lawsuit will be dismissed.

“The facts will support what the school district did,” school board member Eileen T. Walsh said.

Montgomery’s conflict with the school board began in December, when he requested a monthlong paid medical leave.

The school board denied his request twice, saying he did not provide sufficient medical information to prove that he was ill. He has never publicly disclosed his medical condition.

When he said he planned to return to work in January, the board placed him on paid administrative leave.

He was fired a month later because of his absence and unspecified job performance issues, school board members said.