Hyde School asks court to throw out class action suit in first hearing
A federal judge heard arguments Friday on whether to dismiss a forced labor and abuse case against a Maine boarding school.Summary
A federal judge in Maine heard arguments Friday regarding a lawsuit filed by Jessica Fuller against Hyde School, alleging physical and emotional abuse and forced labor. The school's attorneys argued that Fuller lacked standing to sue because she did not experience all the alleged harms during her short attendance and that the forced labor claims did not meet legal standards. Fuller's attorneys countered that she was a vulnerable child subjected to abusive practices and requested the case proceed to discovery. The hearing was the first since the lawsuit was filed last July, and the judge indicated it was helpful despite not typically holding oral arguments at this stage. The case involves potential class members, though many former students are barred by a 10-year statute of limitations. The school has strongly denied the allegations.
(Source：Portland Press Herald)