Our founding partner, Tony Rupp, was recently featured in The Buffalo News for his representation of a local mother in a federal lawsuit challenging the suspension of her eighth-grade son. The lawsuit, filed against the East Aurora Union Free School District’s superintendent and East Aurora Middle School’s principal, centers around the student’s rights to free speech in school and the broader implications for students to engage in open discussions.
The case concerns the student’s five-day suspension following a disciplinary notice related to statements he made in school. While no immediate action was taken when the statement was made in November, the student later received a disciplinary notice this month.
The lawsuit claims that the suspension is a violation of the student’s First Amendment rights. Rupp argues that the school’s actions penalized the student for his opinions and beliefs, as the remarks did not violate any school policies, target individuals, or cause disruption.
To read more about the case, visit The Buffalo News.