Kristan Nigro, a teacher from the Clark County School District and an executive board member of the Clark County Education Association, has filed a lawsuit against the school district and several officials following her arrest at a school board meeting in August 2023.
The incident occurred during a significant protest concerning contract negotiations, with approximately 5,000 demonstrators participating, as reported by union officials.
Nigro faced a misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace, which was subsequently dismissed by Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Amy Chelini in January 2024.
On Friday, Nigro initiated legal action in District Court, naming the school district, the CCSD Police Department, Police Chief Mike Blackeye, and former School Board President Evelyn Garcia Morales as defendants.
Her lawsuit includes seven claims for relief, which encompass violations of due process, malicious prosecution, violations of civil rights, and false arrest.
A spokesperson for the Clark County School District stated that they do not comment on pending litigation.
Clear responses from CCSD Police and Garcia Morales regarding the lawsuit were also not provided as of Tuesday.
The protest leading to Nigro’s arrest was marked by tension over salary disputes between the union and the school district.
Both parties managed to reach an agreement in December 2023, shortly after the turmoil surrounding the protest.
During the school board meeting, members of the union began chanting slogans such as, ‘CCSD’s on fire. Jara is a liar,’ in reference to then-Superintendent Jesus Jara.
Private security personnel attempted to calm the crowd by speaking with several educators, requesting that they remain quiet.
However, police removed three individuals, including Nigro and Jim Frazee, the union’s vice president, when they refused to leave as instructed.
As police engaged with Nigro, union members rallied outside, chanting, ‘Let her stay.’
Following her release, Nigro addressed the protesters with a megaphone, informing them of her arrest, her release, and the ticket she received.
The lawsuit alleges that Nigro was engaged in peaceful protest alongside about 50 to 60 others inside the meeting room.
George Robinson, Nigro’s attorney, expressed dismay over the arrest, remarking, ‘It’s just amazing that they singled out one of the most highly respected teachers in the community for her leadership and philanthropic endeavors to parade in front of the whole world in cuffs for this harmless protest that the county deserved.’
The complaint claims that Nigro was ‘specifically targeted’ during the protest.
At the time of the incident, Nigro was working as a kindergarten teacher at Schorr Elementary School and received approximately $400 a month in her role as a teacher leader in the Employee Onboarding Department, as stated by Robinson.
Due to her arrest, Nigro reportedly lost her position as a teacher leader.
The lawsuit asserts that the officers “paraded her in handcuffs in the view of everyone in attendance including new teachers to whom Plaintiff was entrusted to orient.”
Robinson reflected on the emotional toll of the incident, noting, ‘Really sad that my client had to go in front of the parents of her kindergarten students the next day in shame for this whole debacle.’
The complaint further revealed that the state initially indicated that it was seeking jail time related to the charge.
The lawsuit maintains that there was no probable cause for the arrest, asserting that Nigro’s actions were a lawful exercise of her First Amendment right to free speech, a fact underscored by the dismissal of her case owing to the inability of the state to establish probable cause for any crime.
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