A joint lawsuit brought by the parents of two Saugus High School students killed in a Nov. 14, 2019, on-campus shooting will proceed to trial, according to the ruling issued by the Los Angeles Superior Court. The trial will likely begin in January 2024. The parents of Gracie Muehlberger and Dominic Blackwell allege that the Hart Union High School District had no program in place to identify and intervene with troubled students and, as a result, missed numerous red flags associated with the suicidal student who committed the murders. They also allege the District did not adequately supervise or secure the school campus.
“The District ignored numerous warning signs in the days and months before the shooting, including an assailant with a history of family abuse whose friends had become concerned over obvious signs of his distress just days before the shooting,” said Julie Fieber, a partner at Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP. “Those concerns went unreported, and the District’s advertised student text-to-tip hotline was not working at the time of the shooting.”
The District had argued that it had no duty to protect the students and that the shooting was unforeseeable, both arguments rejected by the Court. The Court held that the general awareness of potential campus gun violence and the need for safety protocols is the baseline foundation for the District’s specific duty to enact protections for student-on-student gun violence. It further held that the District’s argument that it could deny that ongoing threat unless and until a shooting occurred “myopically” limited the debate over campus safety requirements and “obtusely” denied an ongoing well-documented concern. The Court further recognized the vast difference between the resources required to help a single student in distress versus the outlays required to increase overall campus security.
“The Judge has made clear that a school district cannot turn a blind eye to the risks of potential violence from troubled teenagers and inadequate campus supervision and security,” Fieber said. “It will now be a jury’s job to determine if the Hart Union High School District failed in its duty to protect the students whose lives were tragically lost in this foreseeable shooting by a suicidal student who was able to carry a gun onto campus through an unmonitored gate. We believe the jury will find that the school simply failed in its duty to ensure that personnel were watching over the campus and students that day.”
“Our son, Dominic, was shot standing with his best friend and other friends, waiting for class to start,” said Frank and Nancy Blackwell, parents of Dominic Blackwell. “No parent should have to bear the grief of losing their child, especially in such a tragic manner in a place that was supposed to be safe for them. It’s deeply disheartening to see a school district suggest they don’t bear responsibility for our children’s safety. We still have other children navigating the school system, and every child deserves a safe learning environment. We trusted them with our most precious treasures – our children, and we were let down. We hope for accountability and change so that no other family endures our heartbreak.”
The families of Gracie Muehlberger and Dominic Blackwell, the two students who died during the Saugus High School shooting filed wrongful death lawsuits Monday against the William S. Hart Union High School District.
Dozens of carolers’ voices filled the streets neighboring Duane R. Harte Park in honor of Gracie Muehlberger, a victim of the Saugus High School shooting, during the “Caroling with Gracie” event that spread holiday cheer while also giving back to students in need.
One month ago Saturday, the Santa Clarita Valley was rocked by the deadly shooting at Saugus High School that left three teenagers dead, three others wounded and thousands more scarred.
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This was a tragedy. I think that it is disgusting that a carpetbagging lawyer from the Bay Area thinks that she should make a $20 million contingency lottery winning from the money we use to reach our students because our community suffered this tragedy. Julie Fieber shouldn’t get to profit on the deaths of children.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is issuing a windblown dust and ash advisory following strong Santa Ana winds expected to affect the region through Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 10 p.m.
Ahead of another forecasted Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag warning and extreme fire weather, Los Angeles County is asking the public to prepare.
A Better World Running will host the Cupid Dash 5k, 10k, 15k, Half Marathon 7:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 16 at West Creek Park 24247 Village Circle Drive, Valencia, CA 91354.
The Los Angeles County Department of Military & Veterans Affairs will resume normal operations at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall (1816 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, California, 90015) on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is issuing a windblown dust and ash advisory following strong Santa Ana winds expected to affect the region through Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 10 p.m.
The Master's University men's basketball defense stepped up in the final moments of the game to get an 80-72 conference road win over Benedictine Mesa Thursday night, Jan. 16.
Three different players each scored 17 points and the team shot nearly 50 percent from the field as The Master's University women's basketball team defeated Benedictine Mesa 83-71 Thursday night, Jan. 16 in Mesa, Ariz.
College of the Canyons men's basketball had four players reach double-digits but it wasn't enough to keep pace with No. 5 state-ranked Citrus College in a 111-77 road affair Wednesday night, Jan. 15.
College of the Canyons women's basketball is still looking for its first conference victory after its 75-54 road loss at Citrus College on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
Ahead of another forecasted Particularly Dangerous Situation Red Flag warning and extreme fire weather, Los Angeles County is asking the public to prepare.
Fritz Coleman’s show "Unassisted Living," in Residency at the El Oortal Monroe Forum in North Hollywood, will be performed on Sunday, Jan. 26 t0 benefit the California Community Foundation Wildlife Recovery Fund with 100% of all profits raised donated to the fund.
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a business meeting Wednesday, Jan. 22, beginning at 5 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 3 p.m.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau continues its dedicated efforts to locate individuals reported missing following the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires.
The William S. Hart Union High School District Governing Board has unanimously approved the appointment of Jordan Meraz as the new Director of Technology Services.
The American Red Cross is offering financial assistance for families whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Los Angeles County wildfires. Assistance available to those affected by Eaton, Palisades, Hurst and Kenneth fires.
Cal Fire and the Los Angeles County Fire Department have reported that containment efforts continue for all three activie fires still burning in Southern California.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman has announced that charges have been filed against eight additional individuals in connection with eight alleged crimes committed during Los Angeles County’s devastating wildfires.
The William S. Hart Union High School District Governing Board approved the appointment of Vince Ferry as the new Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
California State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman have announced a rapid response effort to prevent and prosecute insurance fraud targeting wildfire survivors.
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1 Comment
This was a tragedy. I think that it is disgusting that a carpetbagging lawyer from the Bay Area thinks that she should make a $20 million contingency lottery winning from the money we use to reach our students because our community suffered this tragedy. Julie Fieber shouldn’t get to profit on the deaths of children.