4 high schools hire attorneys to challenge Southern Section ruling

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Four private high schools that lost their Southern Section appeals in trying to avoid being sent to the parochial area for the formation of new leagues in 2014 have hired attorneys and are challenging the decision.

“Hopefully, there’s a remedy to the situation that doesn’t involve litigation,” said Ventura St. Bonaventure Principal Marc Groff.

St. Bonaventure and La Verne Damien are both Archdiocese of Los Angeles schools and are represented by archdiocese legal counsel. Glendora St. Lucy’s is using the same attorney and Westlake Village Oaks Christian has its own legal counsel.

All four schools are working together in an attempt to overturn the decision. If the Southern Section doesn’t reverse its decision, a lawsuit is possible.

‘We’re weighing our options,’ Oaks Christian headmaster Jeff Woodcock said. ‘The attorneys are collaborating.’

Meanwhile, areas are moving forward to place the schools in new leagues despite the possibility the decision could be rescinded. St. Bonaventure and Oaks Christian have been in the Northern Area for league placement. That area will soon vote on new leagues. Damien and St. Lucy’s were previously in the Mt. SAC area.

All four schools were moved to the Catholic Athletic Assn., which is scheduled to meet this month to put together new leagues.

Groff had spoken about having his school become independent and not participate in a league because of travel hardships, but that appears to have been put on hold while the attorneys seek a resolution to the matter.

-- Eric Sondheimer