The Appeals Court of California ruled Tuesday, August 27, 2019 that students and community organizations can sue the state through its Superintendent of Public Instruction, for failing to monitor and hold school districts accountable for discriminatory suspension, expulsion or transfer practices.
The Court of Appeals for the Fifth Appellate District made the ruling in Collins v. Torlakson (Case No. F075781) and in doing so, reversed a previous ruling by the Kern County Superior Court which dismissed the State Superintendent from a lawsuit filed in October 2014 by California Rural Legal Assistance, MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund), Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, Equal Justice Society, and pro bono counsel Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati.
