Fred Fox loses legal fight

HURON — After a legal battle against Huron Schools board members that lasted for years, Fred Fox's case was put to rest by the state's highest court.Fox filed the lawsuit after he was fired as district superintendent in 2013, claiming wrongful termination. He initially lost in court but won his case on appeal. "We're disappointed," said Jim Murray, Fox's attorney with Sandusky's Murray & Murray law firm. "We won most of the battles and ended up losing the war."A three-judge appeals court panel on Sept. 29, 2017 reversed his earlier victory from October 2016 made by visiting judge Thomas Pokorny.The Ohio Supreme Court rejected Fox's appeal, which was filed in November.The appeals court's decision meant:• Fox's termination was rightful and he should not be reinstated to the terms of his contract.• Huron Schools' board of education should not erase any record of proceedings, including board minutes, held against him.• Fox should not receive about $268,000 in wages and benefits for remaining time on contract after his termination.Fox did not return to Huron Schools after his previous court victory. Since January 2016, he's worked as the superintendent of Wynford Schools, near Bucyrus.In May 2012, the school board agreed to submit a formal complaint to the Ohio Ethics Commission regarding Fox's alleged misdeeds, which included an alleged improper business relationship with a district vendor and questionable reimbursements he received during a business trip.Members also faulted Fox for having a relationship with a woman who worked for another school district. Fox officially lost his job with Huron Schools in April 2013 after the school board, in a 3-2 vote, fired him.Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com, follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood and on Facebook.com/CaitliNearhoodThe Ohio Supreme Court recently rejected an appeal of former Huron Schools Fred Fox.