Texans for Vaccine Choice is pleased that a jury has affirmed the organization’s continued ownership and control of its assets. While we are grateful for the outcome, we are disappointed that this matter required legal action.
Over the course of the last 4 years, TFVC made repeated, good-faith efforts to resolve this matter outside of trial, but Jackie Schlegel was unwilling to entertain any reasonable solutions and insisted on proceeding with trial. Ultimately, twelve jurors heard all the facts and affirmed our organization’s origins and the truth surrounding Ms. Schlegel’s termination as TFVC’s executive director.
The jury’s verdict affirmed that Ms. Schlegel breached her fiduciary duty when she attempted to take $116,000 from TFVC on the eve of an agreed upon Board Meeting, infringed on TFVC’s trademark, and failed to comply with her signed Non-Disclosure Agreement. The jury also awarded TFVC over $500,000 in reimbursement for the years of frivolous legal expenses that never should have been incurred.
Tarrant County’s 17th District Court, the Second Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Texas, and a jury all ruled against Ms. Schlegel when presented with the facts from both sides. Hopefully the unity with which this case has been handled by our judicial system will finally end any discussion surrounding the truth of what happened and the misinformation that has been spread.
Our Board takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard the mission of this organization and to honor our donors through principled stewardship.
We are deeply grateful to our supporters who stood with us throughout this process and remain committed to our shared mission of defending medical liberty. This ruling allows us to move forward with clarity, and we look forward to continuing this work and celebrating meaningful victories together.
