Louisiana Illegally Fired Over 7,000 Teachers After Hurricane Katrina, Judge Says

NEW ORLEANS -- A Louisiana judge ruled Wednesday that thousands of New Orleans school employees were wrongfully fired after Hurricane Katrina shut down the city and its schools in 2005.

Judge Ethel Simms Julien awarded more than $1 million to seven people who filed the class-action suit against the New Orleans school board and the state. Her decision cleared the way for more damages to be awarded to an estimated 7,000 others.