Docs: Bishop McCort aims to revise lawsuit against LHAC as PIAA & 6 schools push back

Docs: Bishop McCort aims to revise lawsuit against LHAC as PIAA & 6 schools push back

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WJAC) — Bishop McCort Catholic Academy is asking to revise its lawsuit against schools in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference and the PIAA as the PIAA and six school districts are pushing back.

The filings mark another procedural step in the case. A judge gave the defendants until Nov. 6 to respond to McCort’s request, and they filed objections on Friday.

The judge has not yet decided whether McCort can file the proposed complaint.

The lawsuit began after McCort challenged an LHAC rule change it said could be used to remove the Johnstown Catholic school from the conference because of its religious identity.

McCort remained in the conference after a January vote. Twelve school districts later announced an “amicable resolution” with McCort, and the proposed complaint says the disputed rule was rescinded in October.

McCort says the new complaint would reflect those developments by streamlining the case and removing parties whose disputes were resolved.

It would also add a claim that the PIAA and its District 6 chairman retaliated against the school for continuing the lawsuit.

McC...