Winston Scores Title IX Win for High School Softball Players

Winston lawyers won class certification and then negotiated a favorable settlement for female College Park High School athletes who alleged gender discrimination in the school’s softball program.

As a result, female softball players will no longer play in an overgrown and uneven field littered with gopher holes, while the boys’ baseball team uses a nearby state-of-the-art facility. The Mt. Diablo Unified School District, which includes College Park High School, also agreed to take several steps across all five high schools in the district to ensure compliance with Title IX, which requires gender equity in education, including athletics. 

For example, the school district is required to hire a Title IX consultant to oversee its compliance with the settlement agreement and its Title IX obligations. It will also ensure that female students have equal opportunities to participate in athletics and have access to sports facilities, equipment, and coaching that is comparable to what is available for male students. The school district also agreed to pay attorney’s fees.

The Winston team that secured this victory for gender equity included Dana Cook-Milligan, Marcus Hidalgo, Diana Hughes Leiden, Jacqueline Ju, and Eric Straka. Winston co-counseled with the California Women’s Law Center and Kaufman & Gropman LLP.

Learn more about Winston’s commitment to excellence in serving the public interest.