Foley verkrijgt tijdelijk straatverbod in zaak rond highschoolfootball in Utah en zet pro-Deo juridische strijd voort namens student-atleten met een F-1-visum

Foley & Lardner LLP heeft een tijdelijk straatverbod verkregen in een pro bono-zaak waarin het internationale middelbare scholieren vertegenwoordigt tegen de Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA). Hierdoor kan een Australische laatstejaarsstudent van de Juan Diego Catholic High School in Utah weer lid worden van het voetbalteam van zijn school.

In a controversial move, the UHSAA issued a rule earlier this year prohibiting F-1 visa students from playing varsity sports unless their team agreed to forfeit all post-season and championship play. The UHSAA attempted to justify its rule by arguing that schools were concerned that “Utah students” were being “replaced” by foreign students. F-1 visas are non-immigrant visas that permit international students to study full-time at an accredited academic institution in the United States.

Foley attorneys David Jordan, Wesley Harward, Tanner Camp, Tyler Dever, and Charlie Morris in the firm’s Salt Lake City office accepted the case on a pro bono basis and filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of Zachary Szymakowski and other F-1 students excluded by the rule.

Szymakowski, selected to be Juan Diego’s starting punter again this year, was prohibited from playing varsity football due to the new rule. The Foley team moved for a temporary restraining order enjoining the UHSAA from enforcing the rule. On October 17, 2024, the Court granted the motion and issued an order allowing Szymakowski to play.

Foley looks forward to continuing to fight on behalf of our clients, and plans to file a motion for a preliminary injunction seeking relief from the discriminatory rule for all F-1 students.

Foley is committed to providing pro bono opportunities for our attorneys and quality legal services to those who most need our help. To learn more about Foley’s pro bono work, click here.