CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) - A Long Island, N.Y., teacher who alleged she was fired from her job because administrators thought she was a witch lost her US$2-million lawsuit in U.S. District Court on Tuesday.

The jury deliberated for an hour before deciding Lauren Berrios, 37, wasn't entitled to any money from the Hampton Bays school district, her ex-employer. The trial began March 7.

"I think the jury saw this for what it was - a publicity stunt," said lawyer Steven Stern, who represented the district.

"We're glad the district can put this chapter behind them."

Berrios, who denied ever practising witchcraft, sued the Long Island district in 2001 after she was dismissed from her job as a reading specialist teacher. After two years, she was denied tenure and let go.

The school district claimed its decision came because Berrios did not get along with co-workers, had a condescending attitude and conjured stories about phantom injuries to her son.

Her lawyer, John Ray, said in opening statements Berrios was a victim of prejudice from her school's principal, Andrew Albano, a born-again Christian. Albano fired her after deciding Berrios was a witch, Ray said.

Defence lawyer Stern said Berrios told co-workers about visiting a coven meeting but was not fired for being a witch. Instead, Stern said, she was a bizarre "storyteller" who fabricated tales that her husband was involved in a plane crash, and her two-year-old son lost his fingers in a VCR accident.

"These are always difficult cases," Ray said.

"We're sad but it proves Lauren is not a witch."

Berrios now works as a teacher in the Atlanta area. She planned to fly home later Tuesday.

Goosey's Gabbings...

And by Atlanta, we mean Hogwarts. And by flying, we mean by broom. (That one was too easy)

Labels: bizarre, dumb lawsuits, fired for being a witch, humorous, Lauren Berrios, lawsuits, new york news, news, odd, odd news, oddball news, offbeat, offbeat news, strange, weird