 $25K and an apology: Hillsboro SD settles suit with teen Copyright by KOIN - All rights reserved Liberty High School in Hillsboro, Ore. (KOIN) [ + - ] 
 
 PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- A former Liberty High School student settled a lawsuit with the Hillsboro School District for $25,000 on Tuesday, months after he said his First Amendment rights were violated when he was removed from class for wearing a t-shirt printed with the words “Donald J. Trump Border Wall Construction Co." 
 
 Addison Barnes, a senior at the time, filed a lawsuit against the school district on May 21. In late May, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order, essentially barring the school for the remainder of the school year from enforcing its earlier decision prohibiting Barnes from wearing the shirt. On Tuesday, Barnes' lawyers announced they reached a settlement with the district: Principal Greg Timmons will issue a letter of apology and the district will pay $25,000 for Barnes' attorney fees. In a statement on Tuesday, Barnes said he filed the lawsuit to "stand up for myself and other students who might be afraid to express their right-of-center views." "Everyone knows that if a student wears an anti-Trump shirt to school, the teachers won't think twice about it. But when I wore a pro-Trump shirt, I got suspended," he said. That's not right.'' Barnes' lawyers said the message on the shirt wasn't the point of the case. “Addison Barnes should be commended for his courage," said Brad Benbrook, one of Barnes' attorneys, in a statement. Then, citing his First Amendment rights, he uncovered the t-shirt before he was given two options: cover up or go home. The principal's letter was brief, apologized for Barnes' initial suspension and wished him well in the future, they said.
– An 18-year-old Oregon student who was forced out of class for refusing to cover up his pro-Trump T-shirt won't end up getting the last word in the matter—which is the outcome he wanted. The last word will go to the principal of Liberty High School in Hillsboro, who agreed to issue a letter of apology as part of a settlement in the case. Addison Barnes sued the school, Principal Greg Timmons, and the Hillsboro School District, accusing them of violating his First Amendment rights. KOIN reports that Barnes initially covered up the "Donald J. Trump Border Wall Construction Co.'' he wore to school in January, but then decided to reverse course. He was then told to cover it again or go home, and he chose the latter option, which the school recorded as a suspension. The Oregonian reports a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order two months ago that prevented the school from banning the shirt for the remainder of the school year, with the judge saying the censorship wasn't legally justified. The school had argued the shirt could fuel a "hostile learning environment." The settlement, announced Tuesday, will also see the district pay $25,000 to cover Barnes' legal fees. Willamette Week has a statement from Barnes, who has since graduated from the school: "Everyone knows that if a student wears an anti-Trump shirt to school, the teachers won't think twice about it. But when I wore a pro-Trump shirt, I got suspended. That's not right."