Former students at a Bay Area high school were awarded $1 million along with tuition reimbursement after being accused of sporting blackface, resulting in them being expelled.
Former students at a Bay Area high school were awarded $1 million along with tuition reimbursement after being accused of sporting blackface, resulting in them being expelled.
— Black Millionaires ® (@Blackmillions_) May 9, 2024
Saint Francis administrators gave the boys two options — to either withdraw from school or face expulsion. The boys claim they were never offered a hearing, and the school did not consider any evidence.
While the jury rejected the students’ breach of contract, defamation, and violation of free speech claims, attorney Krista Baughman said she is pleased with the outcome. “Our primary goal was to clear our clients’ names,” Baughman said, according to Fox News.
The jury did hold the school accountable, finding them guilty of two of the five claims made in the lawsuit, including failing to do a proper investigation. High school representatives released a statement following the jury’s verdict stating they “respectfully disagree with the jury’s conclusion as to the lesser claim regarding the fairness of our disciplinary review process.”
School officials said they are “exploring legal options,” including appealing the initial verdict. “We are grateful for the strong support of our community throughout this case,” the statement continued. “We look forward to putting this matter behind us so we can return to focusing solely on educating our vibrant student body and living the Catholic values of the Holy Cross tradition, which are rooted in hope, respect, integrity, and family.”
Source: Black Enterprise
