The Michigan Court of Appeals has upheld a decision made in a Berrien County Court last year dismissing a lawsuit over school mask mandates. The state court in an opinion published May 4 sided with retired Berrien County Judge Dennis Wiley, who dismissed a lawsuit filed against St. Joseph, Lakeshore, and Watervliet schools over mask rules. Wiley dismissed the suit from Berrien County Parents for School Freedoms on the grounds that there was no longer a mask rule in place by the time he reviewed it. The group appealed to the state court, saying the suit remains relevant in case another mask mandate is issued. The Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled “the likelihood of the school district reinstating a mask mandate is speculative.” The court says if another mask rule were to be issued, it would receive judicial review. The appeals court says, “mask mandates in Michigan have not evaded review by our courts, nor will they do so in any subsequent pandemic.”
