Letter: A shame to take money from schools

EDITOR,
I just finished reading Gary Redenbacher’s column, “The problem with eyewitnesses,” in your March 18 edition (Page 20), and I wanted to share some thoughts.
I was actually enjoying the article up until I came to the part where he describes a case he represented against Scotts Valley School district. Seems he was able to discredit the witness to the point where his client was able to get three times as much from the school district as he would have otherwise.
He sounds like a very good and capable attorney; my question is, why take on a suit against our schools? He says he took the case at the request of a Sacramento firm. Well, Gary, you’re not a public defender — you didn’t have to take it on, did you? You also say it was a little-known case; you might have left it that way.
Coincidently, this week, Vine Hill School is having its annual dinner and auction fundraiser. Dozens of community members, including my wife and I, donate our time and money to make this event a success. With the current budget problems the state is having, every dollar is just so important. I just hate to hear about our schools losing any money via some courtroom wrangling. If you get a chance, Gary, I’d like to invite you to attend the auction and give back a little of that fee you earned on that case.
Kenn Ellis, Scotts Valley