Loudoun County Public Schools fails to pay bill for Ziegler’s defense

The law firm hired to represent former Superintendent of Loudoun County Public Schools, Dr. Scott Ziegler, has not seen a dime of the $617,000 it is owed.

On Oct. 7, an attorney for the firm, Gentry Locke, filed a proposed order in Loudoun County Circuit Court requesting Judge James P. Fisher sign it, which would compel the school system to pay the bill.

Gentry Locke filed a breach of contract suit against LCPS in April 2024 in an attempt to recoup its fees for legal representation. Lawyers for the school system sought to dismiss the suit, but the judge denied that motion to dismiss at a Sept. 30 hearing.

On April 26, 2022 Ziegler and Sharon Willoughby, the chief financial officer for the school system, signed a four-page retainer agreement with Gentry Locke to represent Ziegler in connection with a special grand jury investigation, student misconduct, disciplinary actions and Title IX matters.

The retainer agreement states that LCPS would be billed monthly and, within 10 days of receipt of the monthly invoices, agreed to pay Gentry Locke. LCPS has not paid the law firm in 2.5 years.

It additionally states: “If payment is not received within 30 days, the firm will charge interest on the unpaid balances of any expenses advanced on your behalf from the date of the advance. If the client’s account is referred for collection, Loudoun County Public Schools agrees that in addition to the amounts owed to the firm, Loudoun County Public Schools shall pay reasonable attorney’s fees as well as all court or collection costs, whether or not suit is brought.”

The retainer further states that the hourly rate for the Gentry Locke attorney who would be representing Ziegler, Erin Harrigan, would be $550 an hour for her services and that fees for other attorneys or paralegals who aided in the case would be included as well.

Zeigler was fired by the school board in December 2022 after a special grand jury report criticized the school system’s handling of two sexual assaults committed by Hunter Heckel against two female students at different schools during the time Ziegler was the superintendent. Heckel was remanded to a locked residential treatment facility, rather than jail, and released in November 2023 when he turned 18. He was released from probation in July by Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court Judge Pamela Brooks.

Willoughby is still employed by the school system.

In a related matter, last September Zeigler was found guilty of a misdemeanor charge of retaliating against a school teacher when he fired her after she participated in the special grandy jury. Two other charges - penalizing an employee for making a court appearance and false publication - were dismissed.

Despite being convicted, Ziegler was granted a new trial in March by Circuit Court Judge Douglas Fleming Jr. after Gentry Locke argued during a January sentencing hearing that the jury was improperly instructed on one of the elements of the misdemeanor retaliation case. A new trial for Ziegler is scheduled for Feb. 3-7, 2025.

Attorney Harrigan said this week she is still representing Ziegler moving forward despite her law firm not being paid.