Discovery Phase: Relevant Documents
- Heidi Stepp, AP US History teacher, disseminated a false narrative about Nathaniel Yu and the parody video. During her sworn deposition, she admitted not having seen the video to date. Document Heidi-Stepp-Emails
- Ann Katzburg, SRVEA President disseminated a false narrative about Nathaniel Yu and the parody video without having seen the video. She falsely reported that the District determined after an investigation that Nathaniel violated the California Penal Code’s “hate crime” statute. She further perpetuated a narrative, without any evidentiary basis, that Nathaniel engaged in religious discrimination against Muslim Americans in violation of the Civil Rights Act in connection with the Parody. The District never determined that Nathaniel had violated any state or federal statute in connection with the Parody. Document Ann-Katzburg-Exhibit 285; Document Ann-Katzburg-Exhibit 290
- Defendant Janet Willford, Nathaniel’s leadership teacher had animus towards him. The same leadership teacher created a “restorative process” with the intention of making it difficult for Nathaniel to get back into the leadership program. Document No. INT0000012877; Document No. INT0000015328
- An email from Rachel Hurd, SRVUSD Board of Education member, to Defendant Schmitt in which she states that the video is “not what this teacher [Defendant Willford] is portraying it as . . . it is hardly a Muslim discrimination video.” Document No. INT0000009384.147
- The first draft letter co-authored by Defendant Rick Schmitt, which memorializes Defendants’ belief in May 2017 that Defendants’ decision to discipline Nathaniel Yu infringed on his First Amendment rights, the decision to rescind the discipline imposed against Nathaniel for the James Bond parody video at issue was premised on concerns about violating the First Amendment, and the District’s contention that it had “no evidence” that the Parody caused a substantial disruption on campus. Document No. INT0000015784.001
- An email to Defendant Dearborn Ramos in which San Ramon Valley High School officials inform her they have “deleted all of [Nathaniel’s] grades . . . [at the] request from [District department] Ed Services.” Nathaniel’s semester grades were withheld all summer in 2017 and until the day before his first day of his senior year. Document No. INT0000009175
View Superintendent Schmitt’s Apology Letter Here
View School District Deponents Here