Romberger Secures Summary Judgment for School District in Title IX Case
News Release
New Britain, PA – The Williamsport Area School District, represented by Karl A. Romberger, Jr. of Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams LLP, has prevailed in a federal Title IX and negligence lawsuit after the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania granted summary judgment in the district's favor.
The case arose from an incident during a 2018 school-sponsored baseball trip in which a student was subjected to inappropriate conduct by a teammate. While the court described the student's conduct as “repugnant and culpable,” it concluded that the evidence did not establish legal liability on the part of the school district.
In a detailed opinion, the court found that the plaintiff failed to produce admissible evidence showing the district acted with deliberate indifference or otherwise violated Title IX. The court also rejected allegations that district officials concealed the incident or failed to respond appropriately once it was reported. Instead, the court found that the district conducted a timely investigation and imposed disciplinary measures that were not clearly unreasonable under the law. The court further held that the plaintiff's remaining negligence claims were barred or otherwise failed as a matter of law.
“The court carefully distinguished between the reprehensible conduct of individual students and the legal responsibilities of the school district," said Romberger. "While the facts of the incident are unquestionably troubling, the court recognized that school districts cannot be held liable absent evidence establishing the legal standards required under Title IX and Pennsylvania law.”
The decision dismissed all remaining claims against the Williamsport Area School District. An appeal is pending.
Romberger advises school entities on special education, student services, civil rights, policy development, contracts and service provider arrangements. He represents educational institutions in administrative hearings and state and federal litigation and regularly provides professional development programs for educators and school leaders.
Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams, LLP was formed in 1995 by nine experienced education lawyers who created the first private law practice in Pennsylvania dedicated entirely to Education Law. Since then, the firm has grown to 24 attorneys who represent over 290 school and municipal entities as Solicitors or as Special Counsel in more than 50 counties throughout Pennsylvania, and in additional practice areas, such as Construction Law, Tax Assessment Appeals, Audit of Operations and Practices, Real Estate Law and Oil, Gas and Mineral Law.