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The North Carolina Supreme Court heard arguments on Wednesday in a case about whether a private school can expel students for their parents’ behavior. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte filed a brief in the case in support of the school. In court documents shared by the Carolina Journal, an attorney representing the diocese, Joshua Davey, wrote that Charlotte Latin School had “an enforceable contractual right to terminate Plaintiffs’ children’s enrollment when — in its sole discretion — Charlotte Latin determined that Plaintiffs had made a collaborative relationship impossible or had seriously interfered with its mission.” Attorneys for Doug and Nicole Turpin argue in a brief that their children were expelled from the Charlotte Latin School “abruptly, without warning, and without process” because Doug “respectfully” raised concerns and urged the school to return to its values. Attorneys for Charlotte Latin School said in a brief that “separation was the only option in the face of their irreconcilable differences.” Why It Matters The North Carolina Supreme Court will decide whether the case can move forward after a trial judge dismissed the case and the state Court of Appeals upheld that ruling. The case has received public and media attention as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, members of Congress, state legislators and others have weighed in on the case. Stock image: Image of a gavel. (Atthapon Niyom/Getty Images) What To Know In the summer of 2020, the Board of Trustees of Charlotte Latin School affirmed that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles were “foundational for the Board,” attorneys for the school said in a brief. The Turpins joined several other parents in a group to voice concerns about school values and curriculum. The Board heard their concerns but declined to make any changes or discuss the issues further, the brief said. “Whatever the reason, other members of Refocus Latin did not seek to prolong the conversation, and there is no allegation that Latin terminated any of their enrollment agreements. But the Turpins would not relent,” attorneys for the school said. Attorneys for the school said Doug “sought to rehash the complaints” in “repeated messages” to trustees and administrators. Attorneys for the Turpins said the school’s actions “were not just retaliatory; they were deceptive.” “Latin administrators misled Doug about the nature of a critical meeting, assuring him there would be ‘no blowback’ and failing to disclose their intent to expel his children,” the attorneys said in a brief. “These omissions and misrepresentations drive well-pleaded fraud and negligent misrepresentation claims.” The Turpins first sued the school in 2022, after their children were expelled during the 2021-2022 school year. “Both children were happy, well-behaved, and fully engaged in their education. Yet just days into the school year, their lives changed—not because of any misconduct, but because their parents questioned their education and well-being,” attorneys for the parents wrote. What People Are Saying Christopher S. Edwards, Alex C. Dale and Jonathan A. Vogel, attorneys representing Doug and Nicole Turpin, in a brief: “Latin’s enrollment contract encourages parental input in the school’s curriculum, and Latin’s leadership repeatedly assured Doug that he wouldn’t suffer retaliation for exercising that contractual right. Even so, Latin expelled Olive and Luke for their father’s communications, and it now claims that it has the right to do so because Doug made the school’s relationship with the Turpins ‘impossible’ or because Doug interfered with the school’s mission.” Kimberly M. Marston, Jim W. Phillips, Jr., Jennifer K. Van Zant and William A. Robertson, attorneys representing Charlotte Latin School, in a brief: “There was no fraud or unfair trade practices here. Latin listened to the Turpins as part of the Refocus Latin group and then said it wouldn’t discuss those issues again. When Mr. Turpin continued to assail Latin’s foundational values, it properly exercised its contractual right to terminate the relationship.” What Happens Next The North Carolina Supreme Court has yet to issue a ruling in the case. Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.
