No verdict on first day of deliberation in Mattituck schools trial

The jury did not produce a verdict Thursday following the first day of deliberation in former Mattituck-Cutchogue special education teacher Anthony Claudio’s age and gender discrimination case against his former employer.

Mr. Claudio, 50, alleges in his complaint, which was filed in 2009, that he was terminated from a special education department where 28 of 30 employees were female and most were younger than 30. He’s seeking reinstatement, back pay and punitive damages.

The trial began Oct. 9 before Judge Joseph Bianco at the federal courthouse in Central Islip.

The eight-member jury requested Thursday that partial transcripts from the testimony of three witnesses — Mr. Claudio, superintendent James McKenna and teacher Barbara Smith — be read back by the court clerk.

The testimony from Mr. McKenna was him explaining what he meant when he said Mr. Claudio taught in an “old-school way.”

The transcript of Ms. Smith, who is Mr. Claudio’s wife’s sister, was her testimony that Mr. McKenna once told her he liked to hire young female teachers he could mold.

Mr. Claudio’s testimony, which relates to his explanation of how he believed the district discriminated against him, was still being prepared when the jury was relieved for the week at 4:30 p.m.

The jury will continue deliberations at 9:30 a.m. Monday.