Girard girl’s lawyer withdraws lawsuit

STAFF REPORT

WARREN — The attorney for a Girard girl suspended from extra-curricular activities for 45 days after authorities said she had a party where alcohol was served, has withdrawn a lawsuit filed over the issue.

That canceled a hearing set for Wednesday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court that would have determined whether the girl would be allowed to play out the rest of her junior season on the high school volleyball team.

Atty. Carol Sopkovich dismissed the lawsuit last Thursday, but she declined to comment Wednesday on the reason for the dismissal.

Joe Jeswald, Girard superintendent, said the dismissal was not the result of an out-of-court settlement, but he declined to comment further on the matter. He would not say whether the girl will now serve out the rest of her suspension.

On Aug. 26, the same day the suit was filed, Judge John M. Stuard of common pleas court issued a temporary restraining order blocking the school district from carrying out the girl’s suspension until the merits of the case could be heard.

The case was initially set for a hearing Sept. 10, but the date was moved back twice.

The school district notified the girl this summer that she was being suspended from all extra-curricular school activities, including volleyball, from Aug. 10 through Sept. 23 for having a party June 27, the lawsuit said.

That would mean that she would miss nine of her team’s 22 volleyball matches, the lawsuit said. The girl also plays basketball.

According to the school district Web site, the Girard girls volleyball team’s regular season started Aug. 29 and runs through Oct. 14.

The party was at the girl’s house while her mother was at work, a filing by an attorney for the school board said. Girard police were alerted to the party by a neighbor.

The police said several students were under the influence of alcohol at the party, including the girl who was suspended, the filing said.