ANDERSONVILLE — Friends of Trumbull, a community group made up of Lyman Trumbull Elementary School supporters, has decided not to appeal to Cook County Circuit Court following a federal judge's recent decision to dismiss its lawsuit against Chicago Public Schools.
In the lawsuit, Friends of Trumbull argued that students with disabilities suffered discrimination during the school's closing process. But Judge Gary Feinerman dismissed the case March 3, saying that because the community group was not directly impacted by the closure, it had no right to sue the school board.
"Our legal fight ends here," the statement reads. "We are not able to continue our fight in an appeal to the circuit court."
"This fight was a fight worth fighting. Although we did not keep Trumbull open or change CPS policy, we did shine a light on this issue and helped to keep CPS accountable for its actions."
Friends of Trumbull filed the lawsuit in June of 2013.
Initially, two Trumbull students with disabilities, their mothers and Friends of Trumbull were all plaintiffs in the suit. But all of the plaintiffs reached a settlement with the Chicago Board of Education and voluntarily dismissed their claims, leaving Friends of Trumbull as the only remaining plaintiff, according to court documents.
Attorneys for Friends of Trumbull argued that because the group was associated with students with disabilities impacted by the closure, it had a right to sue.
But Feinerman called that a "breathtaking proposition." If that were correct, he said, "virtually anyone could file a lawsuit."
The judge's decision "shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the situation," the statement reads.
Parents didn't join the lawsuit because they were scared of CPS retaliation or lacked access to the court system, the statement said.
Though the group will not be taking any more legal action, its members will "continue to look for possible fundraising opportunities and for other ways to continue to better the lives of the students affected by the closing of Trumbull," according to the statement.
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