Los Angeles Unified attorneys are asking a judge to dismiss the majority of the allegations in a lawsuit filed by a Black, queer former district teacher who alleges she was terminated in 2025 while on medical leave for a stroke.
Julie Annette Smith contends in her Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit that her former school principal made inappropriate comments instead of taking appropriate steps after the plaintiff complained about workplace discrimination.
On Tuesday, LAUSD attorneys filed court papers with Judge Nicholas F. Daum in advance of a May 20 hearing stating that five of Smith’s eight causes of action should be dismissed, including two for retaliation as well as those for alleged failure to accommodate and engage in the interactive process. The defense lawyers maintain that Smith’s attorneys have not fixed previous problems with the original lawsuit prior to the filing of a revised version.
“The amended pleading recounts various workplace disputes and reports over a span of months but does not allege specific facts tying any protected activity to the termination decision itself,” the LAUSD lawyers contend in their pleadings. “In short, despite amendment, plaintiff’s claims remain grounded in conclusory allegations and inference …”
Smith’s amended suit alleges that her termination was effective two days before she had a stroke, the district’s lawyers further state in their pleadings, adding that her own timeline indicates that her job loss preceded both her alleged disability because of the stroke and prior to any request she made for medical leave.
According to her suit, Smith was hired as a substitute teacher in March 2017 and then given a full-time position in 2022 working with special-needs students. She was assigned in 2023 to the 75th Street Early Education Center.
Shortly after being hired, other teachers began asking Smith if she was married, to which she replied that she was not, the suit states. Although at that time she did not tell anyone that her sexual orientation was queer, her preference was somehow discovered and her principal as well as an aide commented that the plaintiff “just wants to be the latest topic” and referred to her as “weird” or “strange,” the suit alleges.
In August 2023, Smith reported that her own classroom aide, a man in his 30s, was confrontational and insubordinate and often left without permission, leaving the plaintiff without a chance to take her rest breaks, according to the suit, which further states that her principal did nothing to correct the problem.
Smith’s aide once told her, “These (lessons) are terrible because you are a woman,” the suit filed last July 25 states.
During an arts and crafts activity, children accidentally spilled rice on the floor and one of the aides looked at Smith and said, “Oh, we’re just going to make her old (posterior) pick it up,” according to the suit, which further states the plaintiff considered the comment ageist.
Yet another aide once told Smith, “I’m going to kick your old Black (posterior),” the suit states while also stating that her principal once again did nothing to help her when she reported it and instead said, “You are going too slow with this group.”
The lack of action by the principal only made one of the aides’ actions toward Smith more aggressive, contributing to a hostile work environment, the suit states.
Smith had a stroke in June 2024 and went on medical leave and that same month was suddenly stripped of her access to LAUSD work systems and her work email, the suit states. When she inquired about her employment status, human resources told her she was terminated as of June 2024, the suit states.