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Schools
Suit surrounding teacher's molestation stayed, while settlement with Chambersburg Area School District is finalized
HARRISBURG – Litigation from a Chambersburg woman who alleged she was sexually molested by her then-high school chemistry teacher over a six-month time period in 2021-2022 and that the school district lacked adequate policies and procedures for the protection of its students, has been stayed while settlement discussions with the district are ongoing.
Schools
Garnet Valley School District settles with N.C. bus manufacturer after garage fire
MEDIA – In response to a fire which took place in its bus garage, the Garnet Valley School District has, through its insurer, settled a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer of the buses to recover damages it says it sustained.
Schools
Judge again rejects brief from LGBTQ group in suit over first-graders taught transgender issues
PITTSBURGH – A federal judge has denied a motion for reconsideration regarding the rejection of an amicus brief from an LGBTQ nonprofit group in a lawsuit from a group of parents who alleged their civil rights were violated when Mount Lebanon School District taught gender dysphoria and transgender transitioning to their first-grade children.
Schools
UPenn says its faculty’s lawsuit over Congressional anti-Semitism investigation is meritless
PHILADELPHIA – Prior to filing a motion to dismiss, counsel for the University of Pennsylvania have countered litigation from a group of the school’s professors – a suit which alleged the school’s cooperation with Congressional investigations into anti-Semitic activity on campus is tantamount to a modern form of “McCarthyism” – with an argument that the case lacks legal standing.
Schools
Philadelphia's Juvenile Probation Dept. gets partial dismissal of counts in class action sexual abuse suit
PHILADELPHIA – In a class action, sexual abuse lawsuit brought by seven former residents of The Summit Academy, Philadelphia’s Juvenile Probation Department has received dismissal of certain federal civil rights and state-law claims lodged against it.
Schools
Pine-Richland School District argues parent’s suit over transgender student policy is “erroneous”
PITTSBURGH – The Pine-Richland School District has asserted that a plaintiff parent’s lawsuit – one which argues that one of its policies designed to protect the privacy of transgender students instead prevents parents from learning and making decisions about the gender status of their own children – is meritless and should be dismissed.
Schools
Judge says inter-fraternity council not obligated to defend security firm in case of Penn State student death
WILLIAMSPORT – A federal judge recently has partially granted a dismissal motion from Penn State University’s Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC), which argued it was not responsible for indemnifying and defending a named security company defendant in litigation brought by the parents of a student who died at a fraternity chapter house in 2017.
Schools
Third Circuit dismisses Meadville police officer's appeal within man's wrongful arrest lawsuit
PHILADELPHIA – A federal appellate court has dismissed an interlocutory appeal from a Meadville police officer filed within an underlying suit brought by a former Allegheny College student, who had been wrongfully accused of a barroom assault by Meadville law enforcement.
Schools
Judge throws out psych services provider's retaliation suit versus Derry Township School District
HARRISBURG – Litigation brought by a Hershey woman alleging that her comments to the Derry Township School Board on the relative dearth of mental health services provided to students there led to the District retaliating against her, has been dismissed by a federal judge.
Schools
Judge disallows amicus brief from LGBTQ group, in suit over first-graders taught transgender issues
PITTSBURGH – A federal judge has denied the submission of an amicus brief from an LGBTQ nonprofit group, in a lawsuit from a group of parents which alleged their civil rights were violated when Mount Lebanon School District provided classroom instruction to their first-grade children on the topics of gender dysphoria and transgender transitioning.
Schools
Judge denies Penn State's search for other settlements in case of death at frat house
WILLIAMSPORT – A federal judge recently denied a defendant’s request to compel discovery statements from some of his co-defendants who entered into a prior settlement, with the plaintiff parents of a Penn State University student who died at a fraternity chapter house in 2017.
Schools
Companies argue parents of 5-year-old child allegedly sexually assaulted on school bus haven't shown negligence
YORK – Two defendant bus companies have denied responsibility for the alleged sexual assault of a five-year-old minor last October who was riding the bus on her way to school, saying the plaintiffs have not properly made a case for their charges of negligence.
Schools
Drexel University and cleaning company deny employee's charges of anti-Islamic discrimination
PHILADELPHIA – Both Drexel University and a cleaning firm have denied violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964 through allegedly discriminating against a cleaning technician for his Islamic faith, and later firing him.
Schools
Penn State moves to dismiss majorette’s sexual and gender harassment lawsuit
WILLIAMSPORT – Penn State University has moved to dismiss a lawsuit from one of its former majorettes – which alleged she was subject to unrelenting sexual and gender harassment from her coach during her four-year tenure in the school’s band and that school officials did nothing to stop the coach’s behavior – by arguing the plaintiff has not properly pled her claims.
Schools
Former Philly teacher who objected to LGBTQ student policy settles his retaliation claims
PHILADELPHIA – A former middle school teacher in Philadelphia who alleged his firing was due to objections he made in reference to a pro-LGBTQ student policy, which he stated are in violation of his Christian beliefs, recently settled his claims.
Schools
Judge will allow some child statements in suit over first-graders taught transgender issues
PITTSBURGH – A federal judge has clarified the admissibility of child statements made to parents suing the Mount Lebanon School District, in a lawsuit which alleged their civil rights were violated when the district provided classroom instruction to their first-grade children on the topics of gender dysphoria and transgender transitioning.
Schools
Belle Vernon Area School District settles with group that constructed now-failed bus canopy
PITTSBURGH – A Western Pennsylvania school district has settled litigation against an Ohio construction firm, one which pursued financial damages from the defendant company who built an entrance bus canopy at one of its elementary schools, which failed after nearly 15 years of use.
Schools
East Allegheny School District argues development hasn't properly pled its tax increase appeals case
PITTSBURGH – East Allegheny School District has objected to litigation brought by a senior residential development, which claimed the school district violated state and federal laws by selectively filing increase appeals against the assessments of properties recently purchased by new buyers – arguing that the plaintiff failed to state its claims under those same laws.
Schools
Court: Bucks County man challenging Educator Discipline Act is permitted to do so anonymously
PHILADELPHIA – A federal judge has ruled that a Bucks County man seeking a permanent injunction against enforcement of the provisions of Section 17.2 of Pennsylvania’s Educator Discipline Act – a statute which he feels criminalizes the disclosure of truthful information connected to the filing of an educator misconduct complaint with the Commonwealth’s Department of Education – is permitted to proceed anonymously in his action, but not allowed to file unredacted exhibits under seal along with it.
Schools
Parent of kindergartener allegedly sexually assaulted by classmate settle with Chester charter school
PHILADELPHIA – The parent of a kindergartener who was allegedly sexually assaulted by a classmate on more than one occasion and who charged the charter school where the assaults took place with not preventing them from happening, has petitioned to settle their claims.