Latest news with #UpperMidwestLawCenter
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lakeville Area Schools OKs $30,000 settlement on Black Lives Matter posters
Following a lawsuit involving posters featuring Black Lives Matter, the Lakeville Area Schools Board of Education approved a $30,000 settlement April 8. In a lawsuit filed more than two years ago, a group of residents alleged their First Amendment rights were violated when the school district allowed posters featuring 'Black Lives Matter' to be placed in classrooms, while not permitting the display of posters that read 'All Lives Matter' or 'Blue Lives Matter.' In a 5-1 vote, with board member Amber Cameron absent and member Carly Anderson opposed, the board approved the settlement April 8. 'We appreciate the many different perspectives shared. Lakeville Area Schools remains committed to continuing to partner with our families and community to provide a safe, respectful, engaging, rigorous, and collaborative learning environment where every student belongs, is valued and can succeed,' the district said in a statement provided Wednesday. Ahead of voting, Anderson said she felt the settlement approval was a premature decision, referencing the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision in June to reverse the lawsuit's dismissal by a lower court. 'The Eighth Circuit decision was based on assuming that everything that the claimants were claiming could be possible in any scenario. And so to me, I believe we should have gone through the discovery process, which would have meant gathering all the information relevant to the case. In that situation, what I've understood from our legal counsel is that we are on very good footing, that they felt like what our district did was within the grounds of government speech, and that we had an excellent case,' Anderson said. In January, the Lakeville school board voted to remove the series of posters from district buildings. The posters are part of a series of 'inclusive' posters ordered by the district in 2021, two of which said 'Black Lives Matter,' and were distributed to staff members when requested. Upper Midwest Law Center represented plaintiffs Bob and Cynthia Cajune, Kalynn Kay Aaker, and Aaker's minor children in the lawsuit, which argued that the district violated their First Amendment rights 'by engaging in unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination.' 'With the Eighth Circuit's decision clearly signaling that the school district's policy was constitutionally unsound, Lakeville Schools wisely reversed their policy and removed the posters from district facilities,' Upper Midwest Law Center said in a statement on its website. 'Because that was what the plaintiffs had sought in the lawsuit, they agreed to dismiss their claims in the settlement in return for the District paying $30,000 in legal fees to the Upper Midwest Law Center.' Lakeville North basketball coach John Oxton announces retirement High school hockey coach, Lakeville officer returns home 2 months after injury Jury convicts alleged ringleader of massive Feeding our Future fraud scheme Another Buck Hill skier wins Alpine worlds medal: Paula Moltzan High School Football: Cretin-Derham Hall hires Ben Burk as football coach
CBS News
14-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
"Black Lives Matter" posters taken down at Lakeville schools; district settles lawsuit
Lakeville schools have taken down "Black Lives Matter" posters at district facilities and have agreed to a settlement on a lawsuit over the signs, according to the district. The school board ordered the around 3,000 posters be taken down across all buildings in the district during spring break, which was between March 30 and April 4. No teacher was required to put any of the posters up, but some parents had complained that that teachers were not given options of slogans like "All Lives Matter" or "Blue Lives Matter." A 2022 lawsuit, according to the Upper Midwest Law Center, had argued the school district's selective policy violated the First Amendment rights of Bob and Cynthia Cajune, Kalynn Kay Aaker and her children. The plaintiffs, who were represented by the Minnesota-based law firm, agreed to settle with the district on April 8 after the posters were taken down. "Because that was what the plaintiffs had sought in the lawsuit," the firm said in a release, "they agreed to dismiss their claims in the settlement in return for the District paying $30,000 in legal fees to the Upper Midwest Law Center." There were eight variations of the posters, but two of them had the term "Black Lives Matter." The cost to design and print them was more than $10,000, according to the district. In January, the school board voted 4-to-3 to remove the posters , but Superintendent Michael Baumann said at that time they would remain in place until a future poster series is ready. The school district said the following in response to the settlement: Note: The above video first aired on Jan. 29, 2025.
CBS News
07-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Scott Jensen's lawsuit against Minnesota AG, medical board dismissed by federal court
A lawsuit alleging Dr. Scott Jensen, the 2022 Republican candidate for Minnesota governor, was illegally investigated by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice has been dismissed by federal court. According to a court document filed on Tuesday, the United States District Court District of Minnesota dismissed the lawsuit for "lack of standing." The lawsuit filed in 2023 by Jensen alleged the board investigated him because of his controversial views on COVID-19 , and called the probe retaliation. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison was also named in the lawsuit. Jensen claimed that Ellison withheld COVID data. The Upper Midwest Law Center, who represented Jensen in the legal dispute, said the court ruled that Jensen "failed to provide sufficient evidence to show that his speech was deterred or that the board targeted him based on his views." The law firm says Jensen will appeal the court's ruling. "This lawsuit has never been about one person," Jensen said in a written statement sent by the law firm. "It's about all of us and our right to free speech. If it can happen to me, why couldn't it happen to anyone?" Note: The above video first aired on June 6, 2023.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Prior Lake teacher prepares lawsuit after discipline for online posts
The Brief A PLSAS teacher is prepared to sue her employer at the end of the month. Elementary school teacher Brooke Zahn says she was wrongfully disciplined for making a Facebook post in support of Donald Trump. The Upper Midwest Law Center has since agreed to take on her case. PRIOR LAKE, Minn. (FOX 9) - Jeffers Pond elementary school teacher Brooke Zahn says she was suspended without pay for seven days after making a Facebook post in support of President Trump's immigration policy. What we know The post includes an image that reads: "A family that is deported together, stays together." Now, the Upper Midwest Law Center is rallying to Zahn's defense. The law firm sent a letter to Prior Lake's superintendent on Monday that threatens to take the situation to federal court. "There's almost no question in my mind that Miss Zahn will prevail if she has to sue the district," Upper Midwest Law Center senior trial counsel James Dickey told FOX 9 on Tuesday. "We want to stand up for Miss Zahn, because her first amendment rights are being infringed upon here. She's been punished because of her political speech, plain and simple." Dickey says the UMLC will back off if by Feb. 28, the Prior Lake Savage Area Schools (PLSAS) district issues a public apology, removes all mention of the discipline from Zahn's personnel file, and reimburses her for the seven days that she was not paid. "I expect the district to have a response fairly soon," Dickey said. The other side On Dec. 13, 2024, school authorities sent FOX 9 the statement below. "Brooke Zahn is a current teacher in our district. "We are aware of an alleged social media post that has caused concerns. Privacy laws limit our ability to share private personnel information with you. However, when concerns like this arise, they are taken seriously and addressed in a manner consistent with our policies and procedures. "Our priority is maintaining a positive and welcoming environment for students, families, and staff. We value every family and individual who is a part of our school community, and we strive to ensure that everyone feels respected and appreciated."
