Title: LR1 Settlement Agreement and Release Re: Robert Blake

Recommendation:
I recommend the School Board approve the Settlement Agreement and Final Release with regard to Robert Blake and authorize the Chairman and Superintendent to execute all necessary documents.

Description:

• Mr. Blake was a guitar teacher for adults at Loggers Run Middle School.  The school took the materials he handed out to the students, copied, bound them and charged the students $15.00 for the materials.  Originally he made a demand for $100,000 based on copyright infringement through an attorney specializing in intellectual property.  When we refused to pay anything, he terminated the attorney and reduced his claim to $705 the amount received by the school.   
• He has taken his claim to the Department of Education, The Governor’s office and the consumer reporter for Channel 10 in Miami.  He and the reporter have followed this up with numerous calls to the Chief Counsel’s office, the Area Office and the school.  Because of the disruptions, the school is willing to pay the $705 in exchange for a full and final release of everyone affiliated with the School Board, the School District and all employees. Any and all claims would be covered by the release.

Financial Impact:
The financial impact will be $705 from the Loggers Run Middle School internal account.

For Additional Information, contact:

JulieAnn Rico Allison (jallison@palmbeach.k12.fl.us)

Kimberly Hall, Esq.

Attachments (list):
Blake Release.pdf