JOHN F. KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL LITIGATION
The formal name of this lawsuit is Darnette Daniels, et al. v. State of Louisiana, et al., Civil District Court, Parish of Orleans, Civil Action No. 19-6895, Division “G”. It is pending before the Honorable Robin Giarrusso. The Bagneris Firm represents parents of students and students of John F. Kennedy Senior High School in New Orleans, Louisiana, who claim to have suffered damages, including, but not limited to, economic losses, emotional distress, loss of opportunity, loss of quality of life, and other damages, as a direct result of the negligent educational mismanagement of the high school. More specifically, claimants are from the graduating classes of 2019 through 2023.
UPDATE: January 22nd, 2026
Unanimous Louisiana Supreme Court Victory and Resumption of Trial Proceedings
Dear Clients,
We are pleased to share important and long-awaited news regarding your case. The Louisiana Supreme Court has unanimously denied New Beginnings’ writ application, thereby affirming the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal’s decision granting class certification. This unanimous decision is a powerful and decisive victory.
With the Supreme Court’s denial of the writ, there are no further appellate obstacles preventing this case from moving forward. As a result, we are now released to resume litigation in the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans before Judge Hutabarat.
What this means for your case:
- The class remains certified for the Classes of 2019 and 2020 and their parents/guardians, as ruled by the Fourth Circuit
- The defendants’ attempt to overturn that ruling has failed—unanimously
- The case now returns to the trial court for active litigation and trial preparation
What happens next:
Our legal team will now:
- Resume proceedings before Judge Hutabarat
- Begin focused trial preparation, including witness preparation, expert coordination, and evidentiary development
- Continue advancing your claims toward resolution on the merits
- Attempt settlement negotiations
This victory belongs to each of you.
Thank you for believing in us.
Thank you for believing in your worth.
And thank you for standing firm in proving that you were wronged.
Your patience, resilience, and trust made this outcome possible. We look forward to continuing the fight together as we move into the next phase of this case. We will be in touch soon with additional updates and next steps.
UPDATE: September 17th, 2025
We are writing to share an important development in our case, Darnette Daniels, et al. v. State of Louisiana, et al.
On September 16, 2025, the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal issued its judgment in Case No. 2024-CA-0833, affirming the district court’s decision to certify this matter as a class action. This means that our case will continue forward on behalf of all students and parents who attended John F. Kennedy High School during the 2018–2019 school year and were members of the Classes of 2019 or 2020.
The Court of Appeal carefully reviewed the evidence and found that the trial court was correct in allowing this case to proceed as a class action. The Court agreed that:
- There are numerous affected students and families, making individual lawsuits impractical.
- The claims share common facts and legal issues, centered on the mismanagement of Kennedy High School by New Beginnings School Foundation.
- The class representatives and our legal team are adequate and qualified to represent all class members.
- A class action is the most fair and efficient way to move this case forward.
The judgment is a major victory for our clients and confirms that your voices will be heard collectively in this litigation. While the case is not yet over, this ruling keeps us on track to pursue justice and compensation for the harms caused.
We will continue to update you as the case progresses. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
UPDATE: July 23rd, 2025
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals will hold Oral Argument on the District Court’s ruling granting class certification in favor of the Plaintiffs. The hearing will be held on September 2, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at 400 Royal Street, Third Floor, New Orleans, Louisiana. Kennedy High School parents and students are encouraged to attend the hearing in person. Please dress in business attire and bring a Driver’s License and/or State ID to get entry in the building. Cell phones must be turned off during the argument. The Judges on the panel are: Judge Roland Belsome, Judge Rose Ledet, and Judge Nakisha Ervin-Knott. This is a major development in the case.
UPDATE: July 21st, 2025
Dear Clients,
We are writing to provide you with an important update regarding the Kennedy High School class action lawsuit.
On December 23, 2024, the defendants filed an appeal challenging the District Court’s decision granting class certification. That appeal is currently pending before the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal. At this time, we do not know when the appellate court will issue its decision. Additionally, it is highly likely that the losing party will seek further review by the Louisiana Supreme Court, which could cause additional delays.
While the appeal is pending, the case is stayed, meaning that no action may take place in the trial court. We are unable to proceed with discovery, trial preparation, or any other litigation activity until the appellate process concludes and the case returns to the District Court.
What You Can Do Now
During this period, we are asking each class member to use this time to gather and submit updated information that will help support your claim once the case resumes. Please provide the following:
- Photographs from your Kennedy High School graduation
(cap and gown, diploma, group photos, etc.) - A list of schools you have attended since graduation, including:
- Name of each school or program
- Dates of attendance
- Degrees or certifications earned (if any)
- If you withdrew, the reason why
- Any challenges or barriers to educational advancement
- A list of jobs you have held since graduation, including:
- Employer names
- Dates of employment
- Job titles and responsibilities
- Promotions or disciplinary actions
- Periods of unemployment and reasons (if applicable)
This information is critical for assessing individual damages and building your case as we move toward trial once the stay is lifted.
UPDATE: July 18th, 2024
After a six-day hearing, Judge Marissa Hutabarat of the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans rendered a judgment certifying a class action in favor of the parents and students of the John F. Kennedy High School Classes of 2019 and 2020.
The Class is certified as follows:
“Those persons who were either a parent/legal guardian of a student, or a student who attended John F. Kennedy High School at Lake Area in New Orleans, Louisiana (“Kennedy”), during the 2018-2019 school year, and were either (a) a member of the Class of 2019 or (b) a member of the Class of 2020, who claim to have suffered damages as a direct and proximate result of New Beginnings School Foundation’s management and operation of Kennedy.”
The Class Representatives appointed by the Court are Darnette Daniels, John Ross, Tayler McClendon, Trinity Barnes, and Kena Ross.
Next week, Judge Hutabarat will hear oral argument on several pending motions for summary judgment that could be dispositive of liability issues in this case.
This is a major victory for the Kennedy parents and students of the classes of 2019 and 2020.
PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF PROPOSED CLASS NOTICE PLAN
MOTION AND ORDER FOR SCHEDULING CONFERENCE
UPDATE: APRIL 30th, 2024
The Class Certification Hearing concluded in February 2024. We received three days of transcripts from the Court Reporter and we are still waiting to receive three days of the transcript. We cannot complete the Post Hearing briefing until we receive the transcripts. The Post Hearing Briefs will be due 30 days after the transcript is received. At that time, the Court will also consider the pending Motions for Summary Judgment.
UPDATE: JANUARY 2024
After the hearing, the parties will be provided deadlines to submit Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law regarding Class Certification for the Court’s consideration.
In February 2024, the Court will also likely hear the Motions for Summary Judgment filed by both parties.
We anticipate getting a jury trial date in late 2024 or early 2025.
