The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) has followed the recommendation of the Board of Risk and Insurance Management in the settlement of the lawsuit filed by lobbyist Jason Webb. It is our understanding that the recommendation to settle was made for reasons of economic efficiency and is not an admission of liability.
As the settlement agreement specifically states, “This Agreement effects the settlement of claims that are denied and contested and does not constitute an admission of wrongdoing or liability by any party.”
The Department is disappointed that what appear to be personal disagreements have come to this end, and we remain concerned about our future ability to confront and dispute public statements that we perceive to misrepresent the work of our agency.
The WVDE maintains a history of longstanding working relationships with vendors and lobbyists that have been beneficial in supporting the needs of the children and families in our state.
With this settlement in place, we look forward to dedicating our full attention to the important task of providing the children of our state with the resources needed to recover and thrive in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To read the Settlement Agreement, click here.