Recognitions
Paula Hinton Receives Kristi Couvillon Pro Bono Award from the Texas Civil Rights Project
Recognitions
Paula Hinton Receives Kristi Couvillon Pro Bono Award from the Texas Civil Rights Project
November 1, 2014
Winston & Strawn partner Paula Hinton received the Kristi Couvillon Pro Bono Award at the Texas Civil Rights Project’s 24th Annual Bill of Rights Dinner on November 1, 2014.
Ms. Hinton worked with the Texas Civil Rights Project trial counsel for a scheduled federal court trial, but on the eve of trial secured a settlement for the 16-year-old high school student whose privacy rights were violated when her coaches held her in a locker room, threatened to kick her off the softball team if she didn’t admit she was dating another girl, and then “outed” her to her mother against her will–and still kicked her off the team. In addition to the $77,500 paid to the victim, the settlement stipulated that the school district will hold training sessions on sexual orientation and privacy policies, and update its student/teacher handbook to include specific language about the district's anti-discrimination policy relating to sexual orientation.
The mission of the Texas Civil Rights Project is to promote racial, social, and economic justice through litigation, education, and social services. TCRP strives to foster equality, secure justice, ensure diversity, and strengthen low/moderate-income communities in Texas.
Paula Hinton with Jennifer Doan, Winston & Strawn's co-counsel, and Wayne Krauss Yang, Legal Director of the Texas Civil Rights Project.