Santa Clara, Calif. — Two recent graduates were awarded a significant sum by a Santa Clara County jury which ruled in their favor against their former high school on accusations of unjust expulsion. Saint Francis High School was ordered to pay $500,0₩ each to the two students along with a reimbursement for their tuition.
The dispute began in 2020, during a heightened awareness of racial sensitivities due to the Black Lives Matter movement, when a photo surfaced showing the students with their faces covered in a black substance. Initially perceived as an act of blackface, the photo quickly sparked controversy.
However, one of the involved students claimed the substance was an acne treatment, not intended as a racial statement. According to court filings, the photo depicted three shirtless boys; one with the acne cream, was making a rock ‘n’ roll hand gesture. The two others had applied the cream to show solidarity with their friend, not to make a racial or political statement.
Despite their explanations, the controversy led school administrators to give the students an ultimatum: withdraw or face expulsion. Opting to withdraw in June 2021, the families later argued that this decision was coerced, leading them to sue the school for defamation, breach of contract, and misrepresentation in handling the disciplinary action.
During the trial, attorneys from both sides presented their arguments. According to the advocacy team for the families, represented by Dhillon Law Group, the school inadequately investigated the facts before coercing the students out, damaging their reputations and branding them unfairly as racists.
On its part, the school maintained that it had acted within its rights and that the families had not been forced but had chosen to leave voluntarily. In a formal statement released after the trial, Saint Francis High School expressed strong disagreement with the jurors’ conclusion on their handling of the disciplinary process, indicating their intentions to possibly seek an appeal.
“The jury rightly found we did not breach our handbook, did not violate the students’ free speech rights, and did not defame the students. However, we respectfully disagree with the jury’s conclusion as to the lesser claim regarding the fairness of our disciplinary review process,” the statement from the school elucidated.
Apart from the awarded damages, the jury also mandated the school to reimburse the families just under $60,000 for tuition expenses, tracking back to their premature exit from the institution.
Throughout the trial, both involved parties projected their views and interpretations of the event that escalated because of a misunderstood moment amid a crucial cultural backdrop. This legal resolution highlights the complexities and challenges in administrating discipline that aligns with community standards while ensuring fairness in assessing intentions and context.
Despite the outcome, Saint Francis High remains devoted to its educational mission, underpinned by Holy Cross traditions which emphasize hope, respect, integrity, and community values. The school has expressed its eagerness to move past this divisive incident to refocus on its fundamental role as an educational institution in the community.