Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why was a Notice Issued?

You may have received a Notice of Class Action because according to the Board of Education of the City of Chicago’s (the “Board”) records you were a student or are currently a student in the Chicago Public Schools (the “Board”) and you participated in the “Quiet Time” program offered at one of the following public schools: William J. Bogan High School, James H. Bowen High School, Percy L. Julian High School, Daniel Hale Williams Prep School of Medicine, Amundsen High School, TEAM Englewood High School, Gage Park High School, or Telpochcalli Elementary School during the academic calendar for 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, or 2018-19, and you reached, or will reach, the age of eighteen on or after January 13, 2021.

2. What is this Lawsuit About?

Plaintiff Kaya Hudgins (“Hudgins”), a former student at Bogan High School, filed a class action lawsuit alleging that Defendants the Board and the David Lynch Foundation (“DLF”) (together “Defendants”) violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution when they collaborated to implement and facilitate the “Quiet Time program.” The Quiet Time program consisted of two 15-minute periods of time during class in which everyone was expected to engage in a quiet activity. During Quiet Time, some students would practice Transcendental Meditation, which Hudgins alleges is religious in nature. On April 19, 2024, Judge Kennelly granted Hudgins’ Motion for Class Certification, in part, and held that Hudgins could proceed with the lawsuit in a representative capacity on behalf of you and the other Class members.

Defendants disagree that the Quiet Time program was religious in nature, and further deny that they engaged in any wrongdoing against Hudgins, you, or any other Class member. The Court has not yet decided whether the Defendants engaged in any wrongful conduct or are liable for the allegations that Hudgins has asserted. You may view a copy of the First Amended Complaint filed by Kaya Hudgins as well as the Class Certification Order, and the Memorandum Opinion by the Court on Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss at Important Documents.

3. Who Represents the Class?

The Court appointed Hudgins as Class Representative, and appointed her attorneys John Mauck, Judith Kott, and Robin Rubrecht of Mauck & Baker, LLC, and Sorin Leahu, of Leahu Law Group, LLC as Class Counsel to represent the Class members. The address of Mauck & Baker, LLC is One N. LaSalle Street, Ste. 3150, Chicago, Illinois 60602. You may enter your appearance in this case through an attorney of your choice, at your own expense, but you are not required to do so.

4. What Can You Do Now? Two Options:

a. Opt-Out of the Class. You can exclude yourself from the class action by sending your request to the Claims Administrator at:

Hudgins v. The David Lynch Foundation

c/o Settlement Administrator

P.O. Box 25226

Santa Ana, CA 92799-9834

Your request must be postmarked on or before October 28, 2024, and it must list your name, street address, email address and the case name and number above, and indicate that you request exclusion from the Class. If you fail to timely provide all of this information, your request to opt out of the Class will not be valid and you will remain a member of the Class. If you timely opt-out, you will retain any legal claims that you have. However, you will be ineligible to receive any payment in this case that may result from a trial or settlement.

b. Do nothing. If you do nothing, you will continue to be a member of this Class and to be eligible for a cash payment in the event of a settlement or a successful trial. However, you will also be bound by any judgment entered by the Court, and if the parties reach a settlement, you will release your claims against Defendants, and be bound by any settlement that the parties reach, subject to Court approval. In no event will you be required to contribute cash or make a payment to the Court or any of the parties to the lawsuit.

5. Additional Compensation to Class Representative and Class Counsel

If judgment or a jury verdict after trial is favorable to the Class, the Court may award additional compensation to Kaya Hudgins, the Class Representative, for her role as a Class Representative in this Class Action and may also award attorneys’ fees and litigation costs to Class Counsel.

6. FERPA Notice – Current Students Only

Notice is hereby given to all Class Members who are currently CPS students and, to the extent these students are minors, to their parents or legal guardians, that the Board may provide information to the attorneys representing the various parties, or others involved, in this litigation regarding dates that you participated in Quiet Time and dates that you were trained in Transcendental Meditation, if applicable. If you do not want this information to be disclosed to those attorneys or a third party, please send a written notice of your objection to the following address:

Mr. Thomas Doyle

1 N. Dearborn, Suite 900

Chicago, IL 60602

7. How Can I Find Out More Information?

This description of the litigation is general and does not cover all the issues and proceedings. If you have specific questions, more details can be obtained at Important Documents page, or you may write to Class Counsel or contact them by email at mauckbaker@mauckbaker.com, and include the case number, your name, and your telephone number. You may also contact the Claims Administrator by calling (888) 406-0861. Please DO NOT contact the Court to discuss this case.