Lawrence schools seek court costs from litigious parents

Posted

By Michael Orbach

Issue of September 11, 2009 / 22 Elul 5769

After being targeted by repeated lawsuits, the Lawrence School District is going on the offensive.

In a memorandum filed in Federal Court in Central Islip, the school district last week began a motion against five parents who sought to block the closing of the Number Six School with claims of civil rights violations and an Orthodox conspiracy. The district is seeking reimbursement for legal fees it incurred in defending against the suit. Court documents show the district spent upwards of $120,000. Three partners from two different law firms were hired to ensure that the district was ready in just 10 days to defend against the injunction request.

In a ruling two weeks ago, Federal Judge Joanna Seyburn found that the parents' suit was "frivolous," made claims that were "blatantly undemocratic" and featured stereotypes of Orthodox Judaism.

Judge Seyburn wrote that the district had not violated the civil rights of the parents, and that the only violation of civil rights may have occurred as a result of the parents' claims.

“Nothing Plaintiffs have pled remotely resembles any violations of the First or Fourteenth Amendment — except, ironically, for Plaintiffs' requested relief, which itself violates the First and Fourteenth Amendment,” the judge wrote.

The memorandum filed Tuesday reads, in part: "This court noted that Plaintiff's filings were filed with unfounded allegations, offensive cultural and religious generalizations and contempt for Defendants and Orthodox Judaism."

Defendants in court are allowed to sue when the plaintiffs actions are ruled "frivolous, unreasonable, or without foundation."

Murray Forman board president said he felt a "fiduciary responsibility" to "recoup some of the cost — the not insignificant cost — that were expended in terms of defending the lawsuit."

"We certainly hope that this will be the final chapter of this saga," said Forman.