BOSTON (CN) - The First Circuit reinstated the claims of four employees at the Puerto Rico Department of Education who say they were demoted for supporting a rival political party in the 2000 election.
The circuit said the plaintiffs raised questions about whether the new Secretary of Education, César Rey-Hernández, knew about their affiliation with the losing New Progressive Party and illegally replaced them with loyalists for the incoming Popular Democratic Party one week after taking office. The demotion letters gave no reason for the downgrade, and Rey-Hernández acknowledged that he "had no knowledge of the particular job responsibilities for any plaintiff," the ruling states. The court vacated summary judgment for the defendant. See ruling in Monfort-Rodriguez v. Rey-Hernandez.
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