The US District Court for Wyoming must reconsider a lawsuit filed by Grace Smith, a former Laramie High School student, over her arrest during a mask-mandate protest in 2021, Oil City News reports.
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver issued a ruling on Tuesday, directing the Wyoming court to revise its earlier dismissal of the case.
Smith and her parents filed the lawsuit against the Albany County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees, the superintendent, and the high school principal, claiming violations of free speech, due process, and Wyoming state law. The case was initially dismissed by US District Judge Nancy Freudenthal, who ruled that the Smiths lacked standing and failed to demonstrate a valid claim for relief.
Judge Freudenthal’s 2022 dismissal hinged on the fact that Smith had voluntarily left the school, the mask mandate had expired, and any harm she experienced was deemed “hypothetical” or “self-inflicted.” Freudenthal also highlighted that Smith trespassed during her protest and chose to withdraw from virtual learning options provided for students who opposed wearing masks.
The 10th Circuit panel, however, disagreed with the district court’s reasoning. “We are not persuaded,” the judges wrote, asserting that the school district’s actions — suspending Smith three times, issuing trespassing citations, and having her arrested — constituted a tangible injury. They argued that when a government regulation mandates action by a plaintiff, the resulting injury is often clear.
The appeals court also emphasized that the virtual education option offered to Smith could not be considered equivalent to in-person learning. While it may have fulfilled basic educational requirements, the judges wrote, it was not a substitute for the full benefits of attending school in person.
Originally filed in Albany County District Court before moving to the federal level, the Smiths’ lawsuit seeks direct, consequential, and punitive damages. The case argues for financial compensation and punitive measures against the school board, its members, and administrators.
