Settlement should end HLA class action threat
By Matt Aiken
Settlement should end HLA class action threat
Federal Judge William C. O'Kelley put an end to a threat of legal action that has loomed over Hidden Lake Academy for nearly a year as he denied a potential class action lawsuit on the basis that the matter will be settled out of court.
News of the possible class settlement was acquired through legal documents from the U.S. States District Court in Gainesville.
As of press time, both sides had yet to submit the expected joint motion that should result in a settlement.
Positive news at the Camp Wahsega Road boarding school has been scarce since the lawsuit was filed on Sept. 11, 2006.
The parents of two former students initially accused school founder Len Buccellato of multiple ethical oversights which included the employment of unqualified instructors, the knowing acceptance of dangerous students and the misuse of school funds.
Buccellato could not be reached for comment on this story.
In February, both sides met in the federal courthouse in Gainesville to entertain a series of motions involving the pending lawsuit.
Nearly six months of deliberation and deferment later, the potential class action was officially denied by O'Kelley on Aug. 15th.
"[The] Plaintiff's original motion to certify has been sitting idle on the court's docket for over half a year, and, inasmuch as the parties will soon be submitting a joint motion to certify a settlement class, the court sees no reason to leave the old motion where it sits," read a signed order from the desk of O'Kelley.
Representatives from the plaintiffs' legal team declined to comment on the case.
"We're just happy that this thing is finally over," said Hidden Lake headmaster Joe Stapp. "So we can put all our focus on the kids.
Since September the enrollment in the approximately 150 student school dropped by about 100 students. Salaries were slashed and numerous employees were laid off.
At one point the school was described by a member of the HLA legal team as "teetering" on the brink of financial ruin.
"Basically, what was hurting us was paying attorneys," said Stapp. "And now that we don't have to pay attorneys we're in a much better position.â€