In August 2017, two 14-year-old boys wore acne face masks with their friends. Realizing that they looked “ridiculous”, they decided to take a selfie. Years down the road, I had no idea that a group of thin-skinned ideologues might jump to conclusions.
This photo resurfaced in June 2020. The photo was quickly taken as an example of the racism that was said to be omnipresent in the aftermath of the deadly Black Lives Matter riots.
Rather than launch a proper investigation that would have undoubtedly cleared the boys of any wrongdoing, the teens’ school effectively branded them racists and expelled them.
The Hughes family said: “We would never wish on anyone the pain, humiliation and suffering that St. Francis inflicted on our family.”
St. Francis High School in Mountain View, California, paid a price for rushing to judgment.
With the help of the Dillon Law Group, which has represented other minors similarly trafficked in connection with racist misinformation, teens Holden Hughes and Aaron Hurley were taken to high school with their parents. filed suit for more than $20 million. Although the full amount of damages from the defamation ultimately could not be disclosed, the former students walked away this week with $1 million and tuition refunds.
Los Angeles Times
shown A Santa Clara County jury sided with former students who say the school violated a verbal contract and failed to follow due process before expelling them.
“Twenty percent of our boys’ lives have been spent watching this process come to fruition. But by clearing the name of our boys, St. Francis will ensure that no child ever sins again. It’s worth the sacrifice to try to avoid being accused of having committed a crime.”To give children a chance to prove their innocence and to protect the school’s reputation, just like our students.” We want to ensure that no child is ever sacrificed again,” the Hughes family said.
Said In a statement.
“We never wish anyone to experience the pain, humiliation and suffering that St. Francis inflicted on our family. But we hope that the jury will speak and vindicate our sons. , are grateful for finally forcing St. Francis to take responsibility for their repeated “personal attacks on the boys,” the family added.
background
The original complaint states that on Aug. 17, 2017, Hughes and Hartley, then 14, wore white acne masks that Hartley’s mother had bought to help treat a skin condition. .
report NBC News.
“Believing that wearing a mask makes us look ‘stupid’, [Harley] and [a friend from another school identified as Minor III] “They took time-stamped photos of themselves wearing masks,” the complaint states.
The next day, Hughes, Hartley, and Miner III tried a light green acne face mask instead.
“Once again, they took silly pictures wearing this mask, but when they applied it to their faces, by the time it dried, it turned dark green,” the complaint states.
The boys did not share the image online. However, Minor III shared the photo with a friend, who eventually “tagged a copy of the photo in a music playlist on his Spotify account.”
Years later, a student at the school reportedly obtained a copy of the photo, named the student, and implied that blackface had been committed.
Alicia Ravana, a parent who was originally named as a defendant in the lawsuit, posted a video on Facebook ahead of a planned march to protest the “outrageous actions” and pressure the school to take action. He allegedly posted a photo on the book, which made things even worse.
The image drew condemnation from school officials and parents alike, sparking parent-led protests against the minor, according to the complaint.
Jason Curtis
school president, reportedly hastily issued a public condemnation. Without an investigation into the images, a hearing on the charges, or the involvement of the school’s review committee, Hartley and Hughes were told within 24 hours of the scandal being discovered that they would be expelled from the school if they did not leave.
The teens were expelled from the school in June 2020 and filed suit the following year.
Hughes reportedly suggested that the family should install surveillance cameras around their home and petitioned Los Altos police to conduct additional patrols in the area, fearing an attack.
Hartley said her family had to move and she had to graduate from high school remotely because of the persistent harassment, the newspaper reported.
justified
palo alto post
report After 20 days of testimony and three days of deliberation, the 12-person jury returned its verdict on Monday. The boys will each receive $500,000 from their high school and will be reimbursed an estimated $70,000 for their three years at St. Francis High School.
“We respectfully disagree with the jury’s findings regarding the fairness of the disciplinary review process, and there is no case law to apply that argument,” St. Francis High School spokesperson Jamie Perkins said in a statement obtained by the Post. We are considering our legal options, including appeal.” To high school. ”
Lawyers for the former students suggested the case establishes new precedent by expanding protections established by the California Supreme Court. Boulmeester vs. Carey, demands fair process rights for students at private universities. Therefore, such fair process rights are held to apply to private high schools as well.
Krista Bowman, Partner, Dhillon Law Group
said“This case is important not only for our clients, but also for all private high schools in California. High schools now have to wait before punishing or expelling students. We are legally obligated to provide a fair process to our students.”
“After four years of repeated personal attacks from St. Francis High School, the jury’s verdict finally clears my client’s name. Schools are supposed to protect and nurture children, and for public relations purposes, they are not allowed to use children at their convenience. must not be sacrificed,” added Karin Swigert. , a consultant with the Dillon Law Group.
Parents of the former students expressed hope that the findings will prompt the school’s board to “hold those responsible for these actions and make the necessary changes to protect our students in the future.” did.
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