In April 2023, Roxana Caivano, librarian at Roxbury High School, sued four parents for speaking out against sexually explicit books that were in the school’s library. Because of their objections, she claimed to sustained reputational damage and “severe and permanent emotional injuries.” Those who support Caivano characterize these parent’s actions as homophobic and equal to right-win book banning.
Recently, State Superior Court Judge Jonathan Romankow decided in favor of two of the mothers who were being sued, resulting in no trial, reports news website TAPinto. He dismissed the defamation lawsuit from Caivano, who was being represented by her husband, and affirmed the parent’s right to free speech, given in the First Amendment, as they were only advocating for their children’s safety.
Attorney John Cole, who represented the two mothers, reported that the judge also reported said: “I find it rich that the plaintiff can turn around and view this obviously protected speech as defamation.”
Greg Quinlan, founder of Garden State Families, thinks this was an example of leftist bullying.
“It's our opinion that this lawsuit was a clear act of intimidation and lawfare by the librarian and her attorney husband, a misuse of the legal system intended to silence parents who dared to question what was being placed in front of their children," says Quinlan.
Quinlan reports Judge Romankow stated it was hard to believe how anyone could view this as anything other than protected speech.
"I would hope the schools get the message that they need a policy now — not to keep secrets from parents, but to have the parents direct their child's education and the material they see. Parents have a right to know," says Quinlan.
He says the judge dismissed the case with prejudice meaning the plaintiff has no action of recourse.
