Robbins

INTRODUCTION

Plaintiffs and appellants Mary Robbins, individually (Mary), and Mary Robbins as guardian ad litem for both Carl Robbins (Carl) and Andy Robbins (Andy) appeal from a judgment in favor of defendants and respondents the Regents of the University of California (The Regents) (erroneously sued as Cooperative Extension, University of California) and Rachel Suris (Suris). The primary issue presented in this appeal is whether the administrator of the 4-H program in Los Angeles County violated the federal constitutional right to free speech (U.S. Const., 1st Amend.) of two 4-H club members and an adult “community leader” of the club when the administrator suspended them while she investigated whether the members, who participated in making a film depicting violent behavior, posed a risk of violent behavior. In light of the Ninth Circuit’s decision in LaVine v. Blaine School Dist. (9th Cir. 2001) 257 F.3d 981 (LaVine), in which the court held there was no federal constitutional violation under similar circumstances, we affirm the judgment in favor of defendants. In addition, we affirm the award of attorney fees to defendants.

BACKGROUND

4-H is the youth education…