Harvard Westlake: Lawsuit survives motion to dismiss; defendant-benefactor gets curious media coverage

Reader Tip: Harvard Westlake litigation articles are here in the archive.

According to the Student Press Law Review, the lawsuit against Harvard Westlake continues.

Despite an effort to have an arbitration agreement enforced, the court ruled 12 July 2005 that the civil case could proceed.

Alert: Hudnut has some interesting policial and financial connections: Ref

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By not dismissing the case, the court has ruled that the case is legally sufficient to proceed to trial.

[A complaint is dismissed if it] appears that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of its claim that would entitle it to relief [172 F. Supp. 2d 435 ]

In other words, it is possible there are a set of facts which the plaintiff Caplin could provide which could both prevail and win relief.

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According to the LA Daily News, "The suit alleges that on Nov. 10, the Harvard- Westlake student newspaper, the Chronicle, published a story naming the minor and his whereabouts with the approval of the faculty supervisor." [Ref: Rachel Uranga, April 26, 2005, Valley Edition, page N4]

This "faculty advisor," a defendant in the Caplin litigation, is Harvard Westlake Chronicle advisor Kathleen Neumeyer, a benefactor of SPLR, who gave $500 to SPLR, between January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004.

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Following the 12 July court ruling, SPLR subsequently published an article suggesting the suit had no merit in re "publication of private facts", asserting the paper was justified in reporting personal information.

[HW Headmaster] Hudnut said he stands by the Chronicle's adviser, Kathleen Neumeyer, and its staff.

"I would hope [Neumeyer] would be exonerated of any wrongdoing in the case," he said. "I would hope the First Amendment rights of the students would be upheld."

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In light of the Chronicle's disclosure and the 12 July Court ruling, we believe in the interest of fair and balanced reporting, we have no choice but to reveal the private address of the Chronicle's advisor.

[Deleted content]

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Stuff possibly about Kathleen Neumeyer

Legal

Student Press Law Center benefactor, gave $500 between January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004.

Personal

Husband: Thomas & Kathleen Neumeyer

Husband alumni: Midview High School, 1972; Grafton, OH 44044

Home: Swimming pool

Education, Career

Honorable mention, not the winner.

Harvard-Westlake journalism instructor, 1992-present

Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism, journalism degree

Los Angeles Magazine, contributing editor, 20 years

Cal State Northridge, 25 years

Freelance: The Economist, Ladies' Home Journal, McCalls', Emmy magazine, 30 years

UPI reporter, 8 years

[Ref: Palisades]

Politics

[Deletion 2]

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If you have additional information about the Chronicle Advisor, simply leave her address on a public blog, and we'll find it.

Use this notation: [ Deletion 3 ] (Exclude the brackets)

Rumors, gossip, and inside secrets are most interesting.