Legal Alert Update: Court Of Appeal Strikes Down Consent Decree Between LAUSD and UTLA Regarding Teacher Layoffs

In May 2010, the Los Angeles County Superior Court surprised the school and legal community when issuing a preliminary injunction ordering the Los Angeles Unified School District (“LAUSD") to reinstate permanent, probationary, and long-term substitute teachers at three middle schools to resolve students’ claims that teacher layoffs disproportionately impacted the students’ right to equal educational opportunities. (Reed v. State of California, etc., Los Angeles Unified School District, May 13, 2010).  However, the court of appeal recently reversed this judgment.  The court of appeal found that the consent decree potentially abrogated rights of union teachers, United Teachers Los Angeles (“UTLA”) members, and the UTLA is entitled to a decision on the merit of the claims made by the students.  (Reed v. United Teachers Los Angeles,--- Cal.Rptr.3d ----, Cal.App. 2 Dist., August 10, 2012).

For more information, please read the entire Legal Alert here.

Meghan Covert Russell