Spokane judge denies Mead School District request for new trial in football hazing, discrimination case

SPOKANE, Wash – A Spokane County judge denied the Mead School District’s attempt to get a new trial in the football hazing/discrimination case that will cost the district milions.

A jury found the Mead School District liable for failing to protect students at off-site football camp. Judge Annette Plese previously ruled the district was liable because it failed to protect students from discrimination and assault and that the district failed to follow mandatory reporting rules.

The jury decided the school district would have to pay a combined $17 million to two boys and their families. The district previously settled lawsuits with two other students and is also being sued in federal court.

Earlier this month, Judge Plese heard a motion from the school district to set aside the jury’s verdict and grant a new trial.

The district’s attorneys said the families’ attorneys acted inappropriately in the way the introduced testimony and that the evidence doesn’t support how much money the district was awarded to pay.

The district’s attorneys specifically pointed to the families’ attorneys telling the jury that someone needed to be held responsible for what happened. The district’s attorneys argue that was inappropriate because the judge had already ruled the district was liable.

“Thus, the only reason to make these arguments and statements to the jury was to ‘punish’ the District,” the district’s attorneys wrote.

Judge Plese heard the arguments September 3rd and ruled on September 15th, saying the request for a new trial was denied.

In the federal lawsuit, the trial is set for September 2027.