Hermosa Beach City School District votes in closed session to pursue PowerSchool data-breach claims; hires Franz Law Group

The Hermosa Beach City School District board reported that, following closed-session deliberations, it voted to initiate or intervene in litigation related to the PowerSchool student-data breach. The board then approved a contract with Franz Law Group in open session to provide legal services in pursuing claims arising from that breach.

In a closed-session report read during the regular meeting, President Cole said the board "by 4 to 4 majority vote decided to initiate or intervene in the legal action PowerSchool data breach litigation." The report said the district will disclose the names of defendants and other particulars "once formally committed" unless disclosure would jeopardize service of process on unserved parties or the district's ability to conclude settlement negotiations to its advantage. President Cole read the roll-call portion of the report: "Board member Reid Cluth, yes. Board member Bovey Lamonica, yes. Board member [name not specified], yes. And board member Cole, yes." The report noted Board member Van Landingham was absent.

On the open session agenda, Superintendent Susan Wilds presented a legal-services agreement with Franz Law Group to represent the district "in connection with pursuing claims in any form for damages associated with the PowerSchool data breach litigation." Board members moved, seconded and voted to approve the contract; the motion carried with the board answering "Aye." The agenda item summary said staff recommended approval of the contract.

The closed-session report included a procedural caveat: the district will not disclose information if doing so would jeopardize legal process or settlement negotiations. No defendants were named in public session, and the Franz Law Group contract references general representation related to the PowerSchool litigation rather than naming specific parties.

The vote to pursue litigation and the subsequent authorization to retain outside counsel indicate the district intends to pursue legal remedies related to the PowerSchool incident. The district did not release additional financial estimates, timelines or details about potential claims during the meeting.