School district defense represents a significant component of Axley’s litigation practice. Our school law attorney has represented more than 50 school districts throughout the state of Wisconsin in a broad range of lawsuits and administrative proceedings. We have litigated claims for school districts in federal and state courts and in federal, state and local administrative agencies. Our goal is to obtain the best results possible according to the school district’s desires. We take control of the litigation, which enables administrators to focus on their daily work of delivering services to their public and educational constituents.
A representative list of substantive issues we have litigated for school districts including the following:
- Open records/open meetings claims
- Negligence and safe place claims
- Discrimination claims, including claims under the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
- Individuals with Disabilities in Education claims
- Constitutional claims, including First Amendment free speech and association claims, search and seizure claims, and due process claims
- Non-renewal of teacher and administrator contracts
- Privacy and confidentiality violation claims
Client Successes
Worker Disability & Retaliation Claims
Obtained summary judgment in federal court, which was affirmed on appeal at Champlin v. Wonewoc-Center Sch. Dist., 2003 WL 2150938, on behalf of school district of former employee's claim for failure to accommodate an alleged disability, while also obtaining no probable cause finding after hearing before Equal Rights Division on retaliation claim brought by same employee
Constructive Discharge
Obtained summary judgment in federal court on behalf of school district on employee's claims for failure to accommodate her alleged disability and constructive discharge, which was affirmed on appeal at Cigan v. Chippewa Falls Sch. Dist., 388 F.3d 331 (7th Cir. 2004)
Employee Disabilities
Obtained summary judgment in federal court on behalf of municipality of employee's claim for failure to accommodate an alleged disability after arbitrator reinstated employee following termination, which was affirmed on appeal at Peters v. City of Mauston, 311 F.3d 835 (7th Cir. 2002)