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TIMELINE

This is a timeline of the events surrounding Ulama Finn-Hendrickson's loss of employment at CedarBridge Academy:

July 28, 2006: A report is sent to CedarBridge Academy and the Ministry of Education from Texas-based Microbiology Specialists Inc. advising that evidence of mould "associated with potential health problems" has been found at the senior school.

September/October 2006: Ulama Finn-Hendrickson takes sick leave from CedarBridge due to allergy problems which are causing her to faint and have painful headaches and sinuses.

November 1, 2006: Education Minister Randy Horton shuts the school down for a $4 million clean up of dangerous and potentially toxic mould after a number of teachers become ill.

December 8, 2006: Mrs. Finn-Hendrickson's attorneys write to the Ministry to advise that she will not return to work until she receives "satisfactory evidence that the levels of aspergillus mould that has made our client sick have been remedied". The letter is ignored.

November 28, 2006: Bermuda Union of Teachers requests that independent assessors be brought in to ensure the school environment is "healthy and safe".

December 21, 2006: Mr. Horton announces that the school will reopen in the new year because the Ministry of Health, supported by international specialists, has deemed it fit to be reoccupied. His statement says two forms of aspergillus mould were found but the levels have been "significantly reduced".

January 3, 2007: CedarBridge reopens after a nine-week shutdown.

January 4, 2007: Mrs. Finn-Hendrickson's lawyer sends a chasing letter by email to the Ministry requesting a response to the first letter and responding to a phone call from the school to the teacher the previous day asking why she had not returned. The letter goes unanswered.

January 31, 2007: Mrs. Finn-Hendrickson does not receive her monthly pay or any subsequent pay.

February 2, 2007: Her lawyer writes to the Ministry warning that unless her wages are paid to her within seven days "she will have no option but to bring an action against the Government of Bermuda for unlawful termination". No response is received.

March 28, 2007: Mrs. Finn-Hendrickson is granted leave to seek a judicial review.

February 4, 2008: The case is heard before Puisne Judge Ian Kawaley at the Supreme Court. He chastises the Ministry of Education for ignoring correspondence and failing to provide Mrs. Finn-Hendrickson with information about the safety of the school.

February 15, 2008: Mr. Justice Kawaley delivers his judgement, quashing the decision to stop the teacher's pay, granting a declaration that she continues to be employed by the Ministry and awarding her legal costs. He describes the case as "highly unusual".