A Federal Judge Ruled The Lawsuit Against The Starpoint School District Should Stay In State Court

A Prelude to the Drama

In the small town of Star Point, a season of wrestling was cancelled, and two students were unexpectedly ejected from the school. This abrupt turn of events sparked a flurry of legal activities, as the parents and guardians of the two students initiated a lawsuit against the Star Point School District. The legal battle has since then been a whirlpool of controversies and counter-claims, with the school district attempting to move the case to federal court Source.

The Clash of Courts

The Star Point School District, in a bid to divert the case from the state court, filed a notice to remove it from state court. This decision was met with disbelief by many, including a federal judge, US District Court Judge Lawrence Vilardo. The judge, in a 15-page decision, ruled that the school district had failed to prove that the federal court had jurisdiction over the case. The district had argued that the students' removal from school over a Title 9 sexual harassment allegation made the case a federal issue. However, Judge Vilardo disagreed, stating that the district had fallen short of proving a substantial federal issue Source.

The Roots of the Conflict

The series of events that led to the lawsuit began on February 8th, following the announcement by Superintendent Dr. Sean Croft that the wrestling season was being cancelled. Two students were then removed under a Title 9 violation, allegedly due to sexual harassment incidents that occurred on two separate occasions in January, one at a school practice and the other at a private facility. During the US District Court hearing, the judge asked the school district for specifics of the allegation, but the district failed to provide enough details to convince the judge to accept the case in federal court Source.

The Aftermath of the Verdict

In his ruling, Judge Vilardo stated that the decision to remove the two students was arbitrary and capricious, as the school district did not clearly indicate why the students were being removed. The judge further emphasized that without a substantial federal issue raised, the court lacked jurisdiction. As a result, Judge Vilardo sent the case back to the state Supreme Court in Niagara County, leaving many