Parents Sue School Over Cheerleaders' Nude Photo Suspension

OneSickPsycho · 12-09-2008, 12:32 AM

Thursday, December 04, 2008

The Bothell, Wash., cheerleading squad.
The parents of two Seattle-area high school cheerleaders are suing the district for suspending the girls from the squad after nude photographs of them circulated via text message.

The two teens were suspended from the squad — one for 30 days and one for the entire year — after school officials learned of the photos in August, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported.

The families suing Northshore School District weren't identified because the girls are minors.

The lawsuits, filed on Nov. 17, say the district violated the girls' due process rights, according to the paper. The families allege it was unnecessary for school officials to share the photos with other staff members, and claim they were negligent in failing to report the matter to police as a potential case of child pornography.

Matthew King, the attorney representing the families, told the Post-Intelligencer that it was unfair to punish the cheerleaders but not the other students who received or forwarded the photos.

"We're not technically challenging the sanctions as being too strict, we're saying they weren't evenly enforced across the school," said King. "There should have been some punishment meted out to those who were in possession of the photos. ... It seems like the girls are getting the brunt of it."

One of the pictures was taken three years ago and sent to the teen's then-boyfriend. The other was snapped in June. The lawsuits allege that the girls believed they had deleted the photos, but accidentally sent them to members of the football team.

King says he wants the disciplinary action expunged from the girls' school records, the suspensions waved and an apology issued by the school.

"This is frivolous," Northshore School District attorney Mike Patterson said. "It should never have gone to court and they (the families suing) should recognize that what happened here was created by their own doing."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,461644,00.html

Particle Man · 12-09-2008, 12:38 AM

so they are more pissed that the school took action rather than the fact that their daughters have posted nude pictures of themselves? um, priorities....

ericr · 12-09-2008, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Particle Man

so they are more pissed that the school took action rather than the fact that their daughters have posted nude pictures of themselves? um, priorities....

OneSickPsycho · 12-09-2008, 12:44 AM

Well, I just saw the lawyer on O'Reilly and he said the school passed around unedited photos to administrators to identify the girls... which doesn't sound good (crop the boobies out yo!)... and that they never contacted the police, it was actually one of the girl's parents...

So a couple questions need to be asked...

1) Is the showing of the pictures within the faculty the same as distribution of child pornography given the circumstances?

2) Is the school obligated to immediately call the police in such an instance?

LOZ · 12-09-2008, 12:54 AM

no nudes no care

BobTheBiker · 12-09-2008, 12:55 AM

in such an instance LEGALLY the school violated the law by not notifying police to begin with. BECAUSE the girls were underage, and nude pictures were distributed, the staff should have by legal obligation contacted authorities immediately.

I think everyone involved is an idiot quite frankly. more proof that america is a group of retarded morons for the most part.

Dave · 12-09-2008, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobTheBiker

in such an instance LEGALLY the school violated the law by not notifying police to begin with. BECAUSE the girls were underage, and nude pictures were distributed, the staff should have by legal obligation contacted authorities immediately.

I think everyone involved is an idiot quite frankly. more proof that america is a group of retarded morons for the most part.

you mean the human race in general. its seriously no wonder that im a misanthrope

t-homo · 12-09-2008, 01:03 AM

I think OSP raised some really good questions. To me, especially the first one, should be looked at fairly strictly in court.

OneSickPsycho · 12-09-2008, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobTheBiker

in such an instance LEGALLY the school violated the law by not notifying police to begin with. BECAUSE the girls were underage, and nude pictures were distributed, the staff should have by legal obligation contacted authorities immediately.

I think everyone involved is an idiot quite frankly. more proof that america is a group of retarded morons for the most part.

Again though... are you sure they had a legal obligation to immediately contact the police? That's the question...

t-homo · 12-09-2008, 01:07 AM

How the hell did the school administrators find the texts anyway?

12-09-2008, 12:32 AM	#1
OneSickPsycho Ride Like an Asshole Join Date: Feb 2008 Moto: nothing... Posts: 11,254	Parents Sue School Over Cheerleaders' Nude Photo Suspension Thursday, December 04, 2008 The Bothell, Wash., cheerleading squad. The parents of two Seattle-area high school cheerleaders are suing the district for suspending the girls from the squad after nude photographs of them circulated via text message. The two teens were suspended from the squad — one for 30 days and one for the entire year — after school officials learned of the photos in August, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported. The families suing Northshore School District weren't identified because the girls are minors. The lawsuits, filed on Nov. 17, say the district violated the girls' due process rights, according to the paper. The families allege it was unnecessary for school officials to share the photos with other staff members, and claim they were negligent in failing to report the matter to police as a potential case of child pornography. Matthew King, the attorney representing the families, told the Post-Intelligencer that it was unfair to punish the cheerleaders but not the other students who received or forwarded the photos. "We're not technically challenging the sanctions as being too strict, we're saying they weren't evenly enforced across the school," said King. "There should have been some punishment meted out to those who were in possession of the photos. ... It seems like the girls are getting the brunt of it." One of the pictures was taken three years ago and sent to the teen's then-boyfriend. The other was snapped in June. The lawsuits allege that the girls believed they had deleted the photos, but accidentally sent them to members of the football team. King says he wants the disciplinary action expunged from the girls' school records, the suspensions waved and an apology issued by the school. "This is frivolous," Northshore School District attorney Mike Patterson said. "It should never have gone to court and they (the families suing) should recognize that what happened here was created by their own doing." http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,461644,00.html

12-09-2008, 12:38 AM	#2
Particle Man Custom User Title Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central NY Moto: 2003 SV650S Posts: 14,959	so they are more pissed that the school took action rather than the fact that their daughters have posted nude pictures of themselves? um, priorities.... __________________ I'm not "fat." I'm "Enlarged to show texture." Handle every stressful situation like a DOG: If you can't eat it or hump it, pi$$ on it & walk away.

12-09-2008, 12:44 AM	#4
OneSickPsycho Ride Like an Asshole Join Date: Feb 2008 Moto: nothing... Posts: 11,254	Well, I just saw the lawyer on O'Reilly and he said the school passed around unedited photos to administrators to identify the girls... which doesn't sound good (crop the boobies out yo!)... and that they never contacted the police, it was actually one of the girl's parents... So a couple questions need to be asked... 1) Is the showing of the pictures within the faculty the same as distribution of child pornography given the circumstances? 2) Is the school obligated to immediately call the police in such an instance?

12-09-2008, 12:54 AM	#5
LOZ clutch it up bitches! Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Santiago, RD Moto: Honda CRF50 Posts: 548	no nudes no care

12-09-2008, 12:55 AM	#6
BobTheBiker too much time on my hands Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: the northern district of god damn Moto: 01 ZX6R, looking for more now. Posts: 1,802	in such an instance LEGALLY the school violated the law by not notifying police to begin with. BECAUSE the girls were underage, and nude pictures were distributed, the staff should have by legal obligation contacted authorities immediately. I think everyone involved is an idiot quite frankly. more proof that america is a group of retarded morons for the most part.

12-09-2008, 01:03 AM	#8
t-homo WSB Champion Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 7,146	I think OSP raised some really good questions. To me, especially the first one, should be looked at fairly strictly in court.

12-09-2008, 01:07 AM	#10
t-homo WSB Champion Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 7,146	How the hell did the school administrators find the texts anyway?