After Getting Fired for Poaching a Deer During Office Hours, Former School Supervisor Now Seeking $677K in Damages

Life can be stressful and we all have different ways of blowing off steam. For one Oregon man, he just went about it entirely the wrong way.

Last November, Paul Simmons, the long-time maintenance manager at the Clatskanie School District in northwest Oregon, found himself in trouble with the law for killing a deer on company time. 

According to reports, the man’s father had been recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and as anyone can imagine, Simmons was distraught. Looking for an outlet for his frustration regarding the diagnosis, he reportedly left work unannounced, grabbed his rifle and took a shot at the first unsuspecting deer he found. It wasn’t long before Oregon State Police caught up with Simmons and soon charged him for the illegal kill. While it’s still unclear who called the police, his rifle and the deer were confiscated and he was eventually charged for the unlawful killing and official misconduct.

Simmons was later sentenced to 18 months of probation, fined $2,000 in restitution, and had his hunting license suspended for three years for the shooting.

Following the incident, Clatskanie Superintendent Danielle Hudson fired Simmons citing the pending criminal charges, spelling even more trouble for the accused. In retaliation for what he believes to be a wrongful dismissal, Simmons has since launched a massive lawsuit against his former employer.

According to court papers, Simmons believed he had left work on what he considered to be a break, although Hudson had stated that she was not made aware of it. He stated that he needed a short break from work to “blow off some steam” as he drove home in his work truck and spied the deer in a field with a house without “no trespassing signs.”

While I personally find it difficult to justify breaking any law, no matter what anyone’s mental state is, we’ll soon find out if a judge agrees with that sentiment. The documents clearly reveal a man intent on breaking the law and getting caught in the act. The only question that remains is whether or not his employer was justified in terminating his job. 

Simmons' suit is hopeful that a judge agrees that Hudson’s actions were not justified as he is seeking $677,000 in back pay, future wages and for emotional distress.