Local News in Brief : Drum Major Loses Round

A judge on Monday dismissed four of the five causes of action cited by a Covina girl who filed suit against the Covina-Valley Unified School District, alleging that she was dropped as drum major with her high school’s marching band because she did not sell enough candy bars in a fund-raising drive.

Pomona Superior Court Judge Thomas F. Nuss upheld the district’s position that much of Lisa Ortiz’s suit--which complained of emotional distress and other damages--was moot because the principal of Northview High School canceled all remaining appearances by the marching band, eliminating the need for a drum major.

But Nuss refused to dismiss a complaint by Ortiz’s father that requiring public school students to sell candy is a misuse of taxpayers’ funds. The school district has 30 days to respond to this complaint.