Lawsuits Filed Against 2 New Hampshire School Districts Over Mask Mandates
BEDFORD, N.H. (CBS) – Parents in two New Hampshire school districts are suing over mask mandates. The nearly identical lawsuits were filed against the Bedford School District and the Hollis-Brookline School District.
Both claim masks don't impact the spread of COVID-19 and that children are not impacted by the illness.
In both districts, masks are required while in schools, riding the bus and during extracurricular activities.
Maria Nardi is hoping her son, who is a junior in the Hollis-Brookline School District, no longer has to wear a mask in the classroom. "Never had headaches but now he's suffering from headaches when he is required to wear a mask," Nardi said.
The lawsuits, filed by attorney Robert Fojo, also claim New Hampshire law prohibits schools from requiring restraints on children that restrict their breathing.
"It's a very broad statute I think it squarely applies here and it clearly covers face masks or the use requirement of face masks in school," said Fojo.
Fojo's three kids are students in the Bedford, NH school district. "It stresses them out, my son he freaks out every morning whenever he can't find his mask," said Fojo.
The complaints ask for an emergency order restraining each district from enforcing its mask requirement, and also would prevent them from extending the requirement for the 2021-22 school year.
Fojo wrote that the action is being taken "so that children can continue attending school in-person without the burden of wearing a face mask."
Both school districts said they cannot comment on pending litigation.
