David Escobar Jr. v. Tabatha Camacho, et al.

Summary

The United States District Court for the District of Maryland dismissed David Escobar Jr.’s challenge to an Anne Arundel County charter school’s Bring Your Own Device policy. The court held that Escobar failed to establish a concrete, particularized, and redressable injury because his daughter received a school-issued laptop at no cost, and further held that the claims were moot after the policy was clarified to provide a no-cost school device when needed. The court granted defendants’ motion to dismiss and denied the motion for a temporary restraining order as moot.

Holdings

1. Plaintiff failed to establish a concrete and particularized current or imminent injury to himself or his daughter, and he failed to show that the requested relief would redress any alleged injury. He therefore lacked Article III standing to challenge the Bring Your Own Device policy.
2. Even if Plaintiff had standing when the action was filed, the claims were moot because the school provided his daughter a school-issued laptop and clarified that families could receive a device at no cost when needed, eliminating any live controversy.
3. The motion for a temporary restraining order was denied as moot because the action was dismissed for lack of standing and, alternatively, mootness.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Plaintiff established Article III standing to challenge the school's Bring Your Own Device policy in his individual capacity or as parent and next friend of his daughter.
2. Whether the claims became moot after the school provided Plaintiff's daughter with a free school-issued laptop and clarified that families were not required to provide personal devices.
3. Whether Plaintiff's motion for a temporary restraining order should be granted.

Disposition

dismissed