Both sides in a civil lawsuit accusing La Cañada Unified School District staff members and a teacher of unfairly targeting Korean American students — a claim that was made after four high school pupils were disciplined for allegedly cheating on an AP European history exam in 2018 — will meet to discuss case details in February.
A case management conference, in which both sides of a case meet to discuss such topics as whether they have tried to settle the matter or a trial date can be set, is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Feb. 28 in Los Angeles. An initial status conference hearing was held in Los Angeles on Tuesday morning, when the plaintiffs’ representation, Brooks Marshall, met briefly with Judge Susan Bryant-Deason.
The lawsuit, which also alleges discriminatory behavior by certain La Cañada High School administrators, was filed in Superior Court on Sept. 11 by attorney Andrea M. Tytell.
Four students and their guardians have accused LCHS’ principal and a history teacher of helping enact a “covert and systemic policy of discrimination against Korean students,” according to the civil complaint that was obtained by The Outlook and is public record.
After it was claimed that the students cheated on the test, they received zeros as discipline and were essentially required to drop the class. The lawsuit alleges that the Korean American students received different punishment and treatment than that received by white students and athletes for their actions regarding the same AP unit exam.
Tytell filed a complaint for unspecified damages and a request for a jury trial. The plaintiffs are identified in the lawsuit by their initials because they are minors. In addition to LCUSD Superintendent Wendy Sinnette, the lawsuit names as defendants the district, LCHS history teacher William Lively, Principal Jim Cartnal, Assistant Principal Kristina Kalb and Assistant Superintendent of Education Services Anais Wenn.
In a previous statement, Sinnette and the district vehemently denied “allegations of wrongdoing with respect to discipline issued as a result of students engaging in academic dishonesty. The district supports all students, staff and families and works to ensure that all learning environments and educational practices are welcoming, safe and nondiscriminatory.”
Conference on Suit Against LCUSD Set for February
