Read more: Local, Education, Andres Martinez, Former Superintendent, Wrongful Termination, Donna Idependent School District, Donna Isd, Donna, Hidalgo County, Rio Grande Valley, Texas
A legal saga between former Donna Independent School District Superintendent Andres Martinez and his former employees entered a new phase Tuesday morning.
Jury selection for Martinez's federal lawsuit began on Tuesday morning before U.S. District Court Judge Randy Crane in McAllen.
The case has been tied up in state and federal courts for more than six years.
Martinez alleges that Donna ISD board of trustees members went after him when he refused to go along with political rewards and punishment scheme back in May 2001.
The lawsuit alleges that the former school board members wanted to hire and promote relatives and supporters while punishing district employees who supported their opponents during the race.
Court records list the defendants as:
- Donna Independent School District
- George Hernandez (current school board member)
- Eloy Infante (former school board member)
- Aniceto Santana (former school board member)
- Saul Mata (former school board member)
- Richie Moreno (former school board member)
- Gustavo L Acevedo
- Jaime J Munoz
- Rudy Salinas
Court records show that a jury is expected to be selected by the end of the day Tuesday.
Opening arguments and testimony are scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The trial is expected to last one to two weeks.
Click here for a full copy of Martinez's lawsuit
