New York – A Brooklyn federal judge has denied a request for a gag order made by attorneys representing a Brooklyn Bais Yaakov who cited VIN News coverage of a lawsuit filed against the school as a violation of the court’s instructions in the case.
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As previously reported on VIN News, lawyers for a girl identified only as G.S. because of her age are suing Lev Bais Yaakov, its executive director and its high school principal for expelling the student for allegedly texted an inappropriate photograph of herself to a boy based on an anonymous tip and without ever seeing the picture in question.
In a July 10th letter addressed to Judge Ramon E. Reyes, lawyers for the defendant asked the court to issue an order that would prevent the plaintiff’s attorney, Robert Tolchin, from issuing any releases to the media regarding the ongoing case. The three paragraph letter stated that Judge Reyes had warned attorneys for both sides not to speak to the media and included VIN News coverage of the case as proof that Tolchin had furnished transcripts of an initial hearing held on June 30th to the media.
In his five page response to Judge Reyes, Tolchin noted that the court had made it clear that while confidential matters should not be discussed, all other matters could be posted freely on the internet. Citing legal precedents, Tolchin also observed that lawyers for the defense did not demonstrate that his actions could taint a jury or a trial in any way and that his actions were protected under the Constitution.
Judge Reyes issued his ruling on Tuesday afternoon in an electronic filing which stated that the motion for the gag order was denied for the reasons stated by Tolchin in his response.
“This is a vindication of the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of the press and that court proceedings be open to the public, so that everyone can see what is going on,” Tolchin told VIN News.
VIN News reached out several times to lawyers for the defendants who were not available to comment.
That’s the way they roll. They do everything in secret, and rely on people being afraid of their reputations so they won’t stand up to them. Then they get busted throwing a girl out of school and ruining her life based on an alleged anonymous call and they want to sweep it under the rug. All of a sudden the sunshine is too bright for them, they can’t stand the heat and they go crying to the judge for a gag order so nobody will learn the truth of what they did. How does it feel? Now maybe they won’t talk so loud. Now maybe they won’t seem so proud. מְנֵ֥א מְנֵ֖א תְּקֵ֥ל וּפַרְסִֽין.
Thank you VIN! Hope Lev pays dearly for their arrogance. May this be the beginning of change in all our schools!
How does anyone in that school defend being Makabel such horrible Lashon Horah? These schools spend half the lives of young girls lecturing about Lashon Horah (the other half is Tznius), why would the administration of a school not practice what they preach?
In a decent world, the anonymous mother should step up and apologize to the young lady, as should the administration of the school.
But seriously who ever heard of a gag order on a case like this? Is this Russia?
Why would the school want to keep this case secret?
Could it be they care about their own reputation but don’t give a gosh-golly-darn about a young girl’s?
Could it be they know they’re losing this case big time and they don’t want anyone to know?
Could it be?
Yes, and how many years can a mountain exist
Before it is washed to the sea?
Yes, and how many years can some people exist
Before they’re allowed to be free?
Yes, and how many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn’t see?
well said all of youmof you are not the same cookie cutter shape, and we hear a rumor, we ruin your life. Enough of this. It happens in so many mosdos!!!!!!!!!!! זעקה ללא מענה
Why is she in civil court? Did she get the ok from a bais din?
I’m going to assume that the story is true as unfortunately I’m sure this happens all too often only this time someone’s mother saw the picture.
Yet the question that begs to be answered by the school is where was this girl educated? In their school! So the principal should resign for her failure in inoculating in the students proper tznius why throw the girl out??
Money. It’s Allways about money.
Ask the administrators what they are concerned about? The children? No.
it’s about the schools reputation & protecting It at all costs.
To #14 , gevalt, a Dylan fan posting on VIN. Just a simple twist of fate… I recently ran into Satmarer who had no idea who he is, and never heard of Woodstock, enen though our conversation happened 10 minutes from Bethel. Did I say Beth El?
With every update on this LBY travesty someone or another can be counted on to post a “she had this coming” comment. I will observe yet again that while the accusation against this young woman is rather unseemly, there is no proof that her behavior in this case is unseemly. no one seems to dispute that she is a highschool age child, who is not yet rebetzin Kanievsky. LBY in their arrogance and self self serving self congratulatory disregard… has robbed her of the opportunity of ever becoming the best she may have been able to be. And that is a tragedy
It’s all the schools fault
I’m not feeling inspired , it’s my schools fault. Of course if I wanted to, I could buy many books on inspiration and live a life of Emunah ……nah.
I just bought a skirt that ends above my knee, it’s my school’s fault ! Of course, if I wanted to, I could have listened to that nagging voice in my head that told me it was too short. Or I could pick a circle of friends that are machshiv tznius…….nah.
The school believed lashon hora! Of course I’m writing negative comments on VIN……
To Menhalet if you are the menhalet of Mechon Manucha I would run from that school.. What kind of education are you teaching your students by joining with your comments without knowing any facts about what really happened here with GS. LBY is one of the best out there and have had 3 daughters there and couldn’t be more proud of them,and if you don’t know the facts you shouldn’t stick your nose in..
Here is a novel thought how about the girl taking some responsibility for her actions?