Flint-area white teacher loses most of $535,000 discrimination verdict

FLINT TOWNSHIP – The Michigan Supreme Court has thrown out much of a $535,000 verdict for a white teacher who claimed he was discriminated against at a Flint-area charter school.

Craig Hecht says he was illegally fired from Linden Charter Academy for a racial comment.

The court says Hecht presented sufficient evidence of discrimination and can collect $50,000 for past economic loss. But the court struck down the rest of the award because it was based on improper evidence.

The case will return to Genesee County court.

During an exchange about desks, Hecht told another staffer that white tables were better and "brown should burn." He says he apologized to a black teacher's aide who heard him at Linden Charter Academy but still was fired in 2009.

Hecht sued following his firing, claiming that he was fired because of his race after saying black staff had made racial jokes but weren't fired.