TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Kate Prince on Apr 19, 2022

The Knox County Board of Education has settled a monthslong lawsuit that led to the county’s school mask mandate, agreeing to pay $145,000 in attorney’s fees to the plaintiffs, the Knoxville News Sentinel Reports. The agreement between the parties says neither side is admitting wrongdoing, and the cost of the mediator will be split among the board, the families and the state. The end of the lawsuit also means the mask mandate in Knox County schools has expired. The lawsuit began in February after two Knox County families sued the board on behalf of students with disabilities for protection against COVID-19. With no court hearing, no legal precedent will be set on where universal masking falls under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.