Jury Finds Quillayute Valley School District Liable for Hostile Work Environment, Awards Former Coach $250,000
A federal jury of eight has reached a verdict in former cross-country coach Kari Larson’s lawsuit against the Quillayute Valley School District.
Following a multi-day trial before Judge Benjamin H. Settle, the jury found the district liable for creating a hostile work environment, awarding Larson a total of $250,000 in actual damages.
The decision was reached on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 8, 2026. After Judge Settle read the final jury instructions and the parties delivered their closing arguments, the jury began deliberations at 12:37 PM. By 4:15 PM, the jury indicated they had reached a decision, and at 5:04 PM, the verdict was read in open court in Tacoma.
Breaking Down the Verdict
The trial brought the district’s internal disciplinary practices into the glaring light of a federal courtroom, forcing district leadership to publicly answer for their historical handling of boundary invasions and harassment allegations.
According to the official verdict form, the jury sided with Larson on her core Washington Law Against Discrimination claim, affirming that she was subjected to a hostile work environment by the Defendant District. For this claim, the jury awarded $250,000 in damages.
The jury, however, did not find the district or the veteran coach at the center of the allegations, Brian Weekes, liable for retaliation against Larson. Furthermore, the jury did not find Title IX Coordinator Kyle Weakley liable for the negligent supervision or negligent retention claims regarding his handling of the situation.
While the total damages amounted to $250,000, the jury also determined that Larson failed to mitigate her damages, resulting in a $240 reduction to the final total.