Thursday, October 1, 2026
Malverne School District Superintendent Dr. James Hunderfund and retired Malverne High School Principal James Brown received a unanimous verdict in their favor after a three-day federal trial that accused both men of racial discrimination and the creation of a hostile work environment. The case was brought against them by Betsy Benedith of Brooklyn, a former assistant principal in the district, and was tried in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York in Central Islip on Dec. 8.
The lawsuit was the last of three 2014 cases that were originally filed in one action by Benedith, Kenneth Smith and Sherwyn Besson, all school district employees. However, in August of that year, a federal judge severed the three cases, dismissed several of the claims and tried each independently.
After a December 2015 trial, a jury unanimously ruled in favor of Hunderfund and Assistant Superintendent Rose Linda Ricca on Smith’s claims of discrimination. Smith, a South Hempstead math teacher, alleged that racial discrimination prevented him from being promoted and blocked opportunities for extra pay.
On March 16, 2016, Besson’s case against Hunderfund and high school Principal Dr. Vincent Romano was unanimously dismissed. Besson said he lost opportunities for a promotion and extra pay because of racial discrimination and his public criticism of Hunderfund.
“On behalf of the Malverne Board of Education and the entire school community, we are gratified that we can now continue to move forward, together, for the benefit of all children in our care,” Hunderfund said. “These unanimous court decisions provide a testament to the integrity and fairness of the Malverne School District.”
