Legal Updates

Parker & Covert LLP Wishes You a Happy Fourth of July!

On March 10, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rendered its opinion in B.B. v Capistrano USD (No. 24-1770) that the 1969 Supreme Court decision in Tinker v. Des Moines regarding the First Amendment speech clause applies to all students including first grade students. In this case, the first-gra...

Effective January 1, 2026, Senate Bill 707 amends the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code section 54950 et seq.) to change the ability of community college academic senates and student organizations to utilize teleconferencing for public meetings.

The Ralph M. Brown Act (Gov. Code section 54950 et seq.) (“the Act”) provides that meetings of a legislative body of a public agency must be open and public. Since 1988, the Act has allowed teleconferencing as a means to participate in meetings of public agencies. The Act was amended in response ...

Parker & Covert honors veterans for their service to our country, including our own veterans, Spencer Covert and Sergio Sarkany.

Parker & Covert wishes everyone a sweet and safe Halloween!

Welcome back to school!

AB 2608, codified as Education Code Section 67385.7, was signed by Gov. Newsom to address and prevent sexual assault and sexual harassment in California's higher education institutions.   Among many of the requirements, the law requires California's higher education systems to post educational an...

On March 15, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously reached a decision in the case of Lindke v. Freed. The Court held that when a public official prohibits individuals from commenting on their social media page, it constitutes state action under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983 if the official both “(1) ...

On December 5, 2023, the California Department of Education announced the annual adjustment to the bid threshold for competitive contracts awarded by school districts. Public Contract Code section 20111(a) requires school districts to competitively bid contracts involving an expenditure of more ...

The California School Boards Association Annual Education Conference kicks off in San Francisco this Thursday, November 30. We hope you will make time between the informative and amazing sessions to visit the attorneys of Parker & Covert LLP at Booth #630 on the Trade Show Floor November 30 and D...

Governor Gavin Newsom officially signed Senate Bill No. 553 ("SB 553") into law on September 20, 2023. This legislation mandates that covered California employers, including both school and community college districts (“Districts”), must implement measures to both prevent and address instances of workplace violence. Noteworthy is the addition of Section 6401.9 to the California Labor Code through SB 553, making it mandatory for covered employers to establish a comprehensive workplace violence prevention plan by July 1, 2024.

Parker & Covert LLP honors our military veterans this November 11, 2023.

In Brinsmead v. Elk Grove Unified School District (2023), the Court of Appeals recently held that under Education Code 44808, a school district is not immune from liability and owes a duty when it has “undertaken to provide transportation” to students. The Court further specified that a school di...

In A.S. v. Palmdale School District (2023) appeal no. B31801, the Court of Appeals recently confirmed that damages are a necessary element of a Government Tort Claim. Plaintiff A.S., a minor, alleged that a teacher at his elementary school grabbed and twisted his arm, resulting in an injury requ...

In a unanimous ruling today, the Supreme Court found in favor of a special education student's right to pursue an Americans with Disabilities claim in federal court without first exhausting administrative remedies under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.  The case involved a Michi...

On December 20, 2022, the California Department of Education announced the annual adjustment to the bid threshold for competitive contracts awarded by school districts. Public Contract Code section 20111(a) requires school districts to competitively bid contracts involving an expenditure of more...

Student's Off-Campus Social Media Posts Bore Sufficient Connection to School to Permit the School Board to Discipline Student by Expelling Him. Chen v. Albany School District || 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Dec. 27, 2022. In November 2016, a high school student created a private Instag...

On this Veterans Day, Parker & Covert LLP recognizes and thanks all veterans for their service.  Three of our partners, Douglas Yeoman, Jonathan Mott, and Spencer Covert served in the armed forces, making this national holiday all the more meaningful for our firm. Below is a brief history of this...

The California State Public Health Officer Order that required unvaccinated school employees to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing has been rescinded effective September 17, 2022.  The recission order, issued by California Director and State Public Health Officer Tomás J. Aragón, MD, DrPH on Septe...

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled in Fellowship of Christian Athletes v. San Jose Unified School District Board of Education that the San Jose Unified School District (“District”) had violated the First Amendment's Free Exercise clause when it rescinded recognition of the Fell...

In the recent appellate court decision of Jane Doe v. Anderson Union High School District (2022) No. C093099, the court ruled that no duty existed by the school district to supervise a teacher and student who were engaged in a sexual relationship where the misconduct was not foreseeable. Dan...

A recent opinion from the California Court of Appeal, 4th District interpreted Public Contract Code section 20104.50(b) pertaining to interest on progress payments to contractors on public projects. In a suit between a contractor and a water district, the court held that the statute requires th...

Earth Day is an annual celebration to demonstrate support for environmental protection and to raise awareness about environmental issues. Did you know that California schools and universities generate 500,000 tons of waste annually? Half of school waste is organic materials like paper, cardboar...

A number of significant new laws were enacted in 2021, which impact school and community college districts in California.  Below is a summary of each new law, many of which impose new legal duties.  Feel free to contact our office with any questions or for further information. AB 27 (Homeless ...