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18 ¦ DECEMBER 9, 2019 NEWS

¦ From WHILE ECONOMY on PAGE 17 less than a bachelor’s degree.
The report’s authors concluded
Where are the jobs that that it might be necessary to re-

provide economic security?
The Brookings report noted that Some 55 million people in think the fundamentals of the
addressing the problem of low- country’s social and economic
wage jobs raises complex questions. the U.S. are considered “low policies and focus on growth
It said, for example, that more could wage” with median annual that raises the standard of living
be done to provide workers with earnings of about $18,000. for all participants.

education—but added that more “The data presented in this
education or skills aren’t a panacea. analysis highlight the scale
“The conversation can’t end with of the issue: Nearly half of all
the assumption that if only workers had more skills, workers earn wages that are not enough, on their
everything would be fine,” the report said. “What kinds own, to promote economic security,” the report
of jobs are we generating, do they pay enough to live said. “As policymakers and leaders of the private,
on, and to whom are they available? social, and civic sectors seek to promote more in-
The study mentioned research that found for ev- clusive economic growth, they need to keep these
ery good job there are 3.4 working-age adults with workers in mind.”
¦

Jury Sympathy is Good,
But It Won’t Always Seal the Deal

By Robert Storace

At first glance, it could appear the plaintiffs in attacks and mental distress. Her suit alleges school
a lawsuit filed on behalf of a former Enfield officials failed to obey federal law.
Board of Education member who claimed Hernandez appears to be the type of plaintiff who
the school board discriminat- would garner goodwill from jurors.
ed against her and violated the Described as the first openly autis-
Americans with Disabilities Act tic person to run for public office
would be a slam-dunk victory. in Enfield, she emerged victorious,
But some experts say not so fast. Do jurors prioritize facts winning a seat on the school.
Plaintiff Sarah Hernandez—in over feelings? Experts say
But some attorneys say de-
her federal lawsuit filed Tuesday— they do, heeding judges’ fendants in similar cases have

alleges the school board promised advice to put aside their rejected settlement, and come out
to make accommodations for her
because she’s autistic, profoundly emotions and render on the winning side after trial. A
hard of hearing and has auditory key factor: Do jurors prioritize
processing challenges. The law- decisions based on fact and facts over feelings? Experts say
not sympathy. they do, heeding judges’ advice to

suit claims accommodations such put aside their emotions and ren-
as communicating via text, as op- der decisions based on fact and
posed to telephone, and having not sympathy.
an erasable whiteboard in executive session did not “Maybe [the school board] tried to work with
occur and was frowned upon. Hernandez, accord- her and it did not work. There are two sides with
ing to the lawsuit, said the experience gave her panic every story,” said Mark Dubois, an attorney with

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