Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-02421/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-02421-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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08cv2421

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CHANTAL ARIOSTA, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

FALLBROOK UNION HIGH SCHOOL

DISTRICT, et al.,

Defendants. 

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Civil No. 08cv2421-L(AJB)

ORDER DENYING AS MOOT

PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR A

PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION

This action is based on alleged violation by school officials of students’ and a student

advisor’s First Amendment and other rights. Three of the Plaintiffs filed a motion for a

preliminary injunction. For the reasons which follow, the motion is DENIED AS MOOT. 

As relevant Plaintiffs’ motion, the action arises out of two incidents related to The

Tomahawk, a newspaper published by the journalism class at Fallbrook High School (“FHS”). 

In one incident a then- senior journalism class student, Plaintiff Chantal Ariosta (“Arisota”),

wrote an article regarding the alleged refusal of former Fallbrook Union High School District

(“FUHSD”) Superintendent Tom Anthony to comply with a request from the fire marshal to

close the school for use as an evacuation center during the wildfires of October 2007, and the

FUHSD’s subsequent buyout of the Superintendent’s contract. (First Am. Compl. at 3.) 

Defendant Rod King (“King”), the FHS principal, ordered the article removed in its entirety

from the newspaper. (Id. at 3-4). In the second incident another then-senior student, Plaintiff

Case 3:08-cv-02421-L-AJB Document 40 Filed 06/29/09 Page 1 of 2
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Margaret Dupes (“Dupes”), wrote an editorial, which was a critique of the Bush

Administration’s abstinence-only policy of sex education and a response to an assembly

sponsored by FHS promoting abstinence-only sex education which was held earlier in the school

year. Plaintiff Daniela Rogulj (“Rogulj”), a student and Opinion Page Editor collaborated on the

editorial with Dupes and edited it. King caused the editorial to be removed from the newspaper. 

(Id. at 4.)

Ariosta, Dupes and Rogulj moved for a preliminary injunction “prohibiting Defendants

from continuing to impose a prior restraint on publication of the Article and Editorial at issue in

Plaintiff’s complaint.” (Pls’ Notice of Mot. and Mot. at 2.) On March 25, 2009 Defendants

published the article and editorial in The Tomahawk. (Supp. Decl. of Dale J. Mitchell dated

Mar. 26, 2009 & Ex. A.) Plaintiffs acknowledge that the publication moots their motion. (Reply

at 1 (“Defendants’ new position might make it unnecessary for this Court to issue an

injunction.”).) Plaintiffs do not contend that the article and editorial, as published, were

censored in any way.

Based on the foregoing, Plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction is DENIED AS

MOOT.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: June 29, 2009

M. James Lorenz

United States District Court Judge

COPY TO: 

HON. ANTHONY J. BATTAGLIA

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

ALL PARTIES/COUNSEL

Case 3:08-cv-02421-L-AJB Document 40 Filed 06/29/09 Page 2 of 2