Colin
Los Angeles, CA – The Center for American Liberty (CAL) filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) for its failure to comply with California’s Public Records Act (CPRA). The lawsuit, filed on March 19, 2024, highlights LAUSD’s repeated non-compliance and lack of transparency in response to CAL’s lawful requests for public records (filed on August 30, 2022) regarding classroom curriculum on transgenderism, critical race theory and other topics.
Link to lawsuit documents and exhibits here.
“We are deeply concerned by LAUSD’s repeated failure to comply with California’s Public Records Act, which undermines transparency and accountability in government,” Harmeet K. Dhillon, CEO and Founder of the Center for American Liberty, said. “This lawsuit is not just about obtaining documents; it’s about upholding the public’s right to access critical information and ensuring that government agencies are held accountable for their actions.”
The lawsuit stems from multiple instances where LAUSD failed to provide requested documents within the mandated timeframe or at all. Despite CAL’s diligent efforts to work with LAUSD in good faith, the district repeatedly fell short of its legal obligations under the CPRA.
One key aspect of the lawsuit involves a series of email exchanges between June 5, 2023, and August 11, 2023, where LAUSD failed to review and disclose responsive documents, despite being provided with reasonable requests to narrow down the scope of the search. Additionally, LAUSD’s provision of identical web links on August 22, 2023, which did not meet the requirements of the CPRA request, further underscored the district’s lack of compliance.
Furthermore, CAL’s specific request dated May 22, 2023, regarding documents related to the maintenance of pupil records, “gender support plans,” and contacts with certain third-party groups, has not been adequately addressed or fulfilled by LAUSD. Despite assurances of production dates, LAUSD has not delivered any responsive documents to date, constituting a clear breach of its duty under the PRA.
The lawsuit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief to compel LAUSD to fulfill its obligations under the CPRA, including the prompt disclosure of responsive records. CAL emphasizes that this legal action is necessary to safeguard transparency, accountability, and the public’s right to access essential information.
About the Center for American Liberty
The Center for American Liberty is a non-profit litigation, education, and public policy organization dedicated to advancing Free Speech rights and Civil Liberties. Founded by Harmeet K. Dhillon in 2019, the Center for American Liberty offers pro-bono and low-bono legal representation to Americans whose fundamental freedoms are violated.
