Lawsuit -- In General . . .

I'm happy to say that the need for multiple blog posts is lessening. You seem to be mastering the fundamentals of journalism in a way where we can comfortably start applying those skills to different mediums beyond just writing. And that's where we want to be. Good job, everybody!

A few things to note from this assignment:

Don't forget the use of "allegedly." In a lawsuit, nothing is proven yet; all is alleged. So don't skimp on using that disclaimer. One of you wroye that the kid's lack of skills was "in fact due to . . . incompetent teachers." Uh, no! No facts have yet been proven! It's allegedly due to incompetent teachers!

Make sure you have the news in the lede. The news isn't that a lawsuit was filed; it's why, right?

Use AP Style. I know the document said it was the 9th Judicial Circuit, but in AP Style that is Ninth Judicial Circuit. Remember your AP number rules.

One of you didn't name the plaintiffs. I assume it was to protect the identity of a minor. While the policies of newspapers, TV stations and Web sites widely vary on whether or when to use the names of child suspects or victims, rarely does that standard apply to lawsuits where the plaintiffs are seeking mucho dineros.

Don't be redundant. You don't need to say they are suing for compensatory damages of $5000,000; just say they are suing for $500,000. That's what the compensatory damages are; why not just cut to the chase?

Simplify things. One of you wrote that the parents "are pursuing a civil court case against the school district." Why not just say "suing the school district"? Again, cut to the chase and translate legal gobbledygook to simple English.

Watch for unnecessary fatals. One very-nicely written story idnetified the plaintiffs as the Dowells. It was the Dowdells. Nothing to add here, folks. Just pointing it out.

Watch your punctuation. This isn't a grammar class, but I'm concerned about the proper use of apostrophe s's. Lots of incorrect usage in this exercise. You can find a cheat sheet on where to put an apostrophe around an "s" in the AP Stylebook in the chapter titled "A Guide To Punctuation." Under "Punctuation Marks And How To Use Them," read the section under "apostrophe."