Superintendent candidate who had $151k job offer rescinded over using the word ‘ladies’ in an email loses in court

A Massachusetts man who sued after his job offer was rescinded for the “wokest” reason ever has lost his lawsuit.

Vito J. Perrone, the plaintiff, received a job offer to serve as superintendent of Easthampton Public Schools in March of 2023.

During the contract negotiations that immediately ensued, Perrone at one point sent an email to the Easthampton School Committee outlining three of his requests. But in sending the email, he made a mistake.

“Ladies, good evening! I perused the contract and have three requests,” he wrote.

Superintendent candidate, Vito Perrone, lost his job offer this week at Easthampton Public Schools after using the word “ladies” in an email to two female colleagues. Perrone was shocked, as he believed the term to be respectful. “DEI experts” explained that “ladies” can be… pic.twitter.com/mNP0fK9iPx

— Eric McPherson (@EricMcPh) April 8, 2023

The keyword there was “ladies.” The ladies he’d addressed the letter to evidently took offense at the word, because of course.

They complained that the use of the word was “unprofessional and dismissive,” according to the Daily Hampshire Gazette.

One Easthampton School Committee member even said that she was “terrified” by Perrone not recognizing that “ladies” would be an offensive “microaggression.”

The committee ultimately decided that they did not want to hire “someone who needs to be chastised” and voted 5-1-1 to rescind Perrone’s job offer.

Prior to the vote, he defended himself by saying that he hadn’t perceived “ladies” as an insult, he apologized, and he promised never to make this mistake again.

“I was shocked,” Perrone later told the Gazette. “I grew up in a time when ‘ladies’ and ‘gentlemen’ was a sign of respect. I didn’t intend to insult anyone.”

According to The Boston Globe, he was backed at the time by a local teachers’ union.

“More than 150 people turned out … to support Perrone at a rally organized by the Easthampton Education Association in front of the city’s Municipal Building,” the Globe reported in March of 2023.

“Changing votes behind closed doors is unacceptable!” the association reportedly wrote in a Facebook post. “Shame on the school committee for participating in cancel culture!”

A year later, Perrone filed suit in October of 2024, alleging that the Easthampton School Committee had breached an employment contract and deprived him of due process.

“The lawsuit sought $300,000 in damages for loss of wages, loss of employment and retirement benefits, loss of employment opportunities and damage to reputation as well as humiliation, personal distress and the burden of litigation fees,” the Gazette notes.

Last week, U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni dismissed the case on the basis that the contract Perrone had been discussing with the Easthampton School Committee, both via email and orally, was never written down on paper.

“It is undisputed that [Perrone] did not sign an actual employment contract,” he said in his ruling. “[Perrone] nevertheless argues he had a valid contract (and a protected property interest).”

“There is no plausible support, whether direct or inferential, for [Perrone’s] legal conclusion that an enforceable contract was created by the March 29 email,” he added.

The email the judge referenced was the one in which Perrone both referred to the committee’s members are “ladies” and also asked for a 3 percent, second-year raise, 30 days of vacation, and 18 sick days annually.

Judge Mastroianni also ruled that Perrone’s claim that he had a valid contract with the committee runs against a state law pertaining to the hiring of public school superintendents.

“Massachusetts public policy requires an affirmative vote of the School Committee to accept any alterations to a previously offered employment agreement,” he said. “As a matter of law, no enforceable contract is formed until such a vote occurs.”

And lastly, the judge threw out Perrone’s suit with prejudice, meaning the aspiring superintendent may not ever again refile it.

The only good news for Perrone is that he’s reportedly bounced back and has served as superintendent of the Hampshire Regional School District for roughly a year.

“The Westhampton resident also worked as assistant superintendent for West Springfield Public Schools, and was Easthampton High School principal and a coach for six years,” according to the Gazette.

Senior Staff Writer
[email protected]

V. Saxena is a staff writer for BizPac Review with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University.

Latest posts by Vivek Saxena (see all)

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.