LEMA v. DAVENPORT

Court
D.N.J.
Docket number
3:26-cv-04682
Filed
Last filing
Assigned judge
Robert Kirsch
Referred judge
Justin T. Quinn
Nature of suit
950 Constitutional - State Statute
Cause
28:1331 Federal Question: Other Civil Rights
Jurisdiction
Federal Question
Jury demand
Plaintiff
Case
Lema v. Davenport
Cite
Lema v. Davenport, No. 3:26-cv-04682 (D.N.J. filed Apr. 28, 2026)
Source
Docket on CourtListener(opens another site)

The 13 court documents filed in this docket, as listed for its case.

Docket entries

The entries the archive holds for this docket. For the full docket, use the link above.

Docket entries
No.DateDescriptionDocument
1COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing and Admin fee $ 405 receipt number ANJDC-17359640) with JURY DEMAND, filed by MARIA LEMA. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A. Department of Education Transgender Guidance for School Districts, # 2 Exhibit B. Hackensack BOE Policy 5756, # 3 Exhibit C. Burlington Twp. BOE Policy 5145.7, # 4 Exhibit D. North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional H.S. Board of Ed. Policy 5145.7, # 5 Exhibit E. Bethlehem Twp. BOE Policy 5756, # 6 Exhibit F. Newark BOE Policy 5145.7, # 7 Text of Proposed Order Proposed Order to Show Cause Seeking Preliminary Injunction, # 8 Memorandum of Law in Support of Application for Order to Show Cause Seeking Preliminary Injunction, # 9 Declaration of Service)(BERUTTI, RONALD) (Entered: 04/28/2026)Open(opens another site)
2SUMMONS ISSUED as to HASANI C. COUNCIL, JENNIFER DAVENPORT, MARILYN DUNHAM, JENNIFER HARRIS, LILY LAUX, DANIEL MACDONNELL, BRENDAN MCISAAC, IRMA NUNEZ. Attached is the official court Summons, please fill out Defendant and Plaintiffs attorney information and serve. (arm) (Entered: 04/28/2026)Open(opens another site)
3TEXT ORDER: This Court is in receipt of Plaintiffs' Complaint. (ECF No. 1 .) Embedded as an exhibit at the end of nearly seventy (70) pages of the Complaint and attached exhibits is Plaintiffs' request for a Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction. (See ECF Nos. 1 -7, 1 -8.) The manner of Plaintiffs' request fails to comply with this District's Local Civil Rules. See L. Civ. R. 7.1(b)(2) (requiring a Notice of Motion for all motions); id. 7.1(d)(1) (requiring a movant's brief in support of a motion be filed with the Court as "a separate document"). In addition to failing to abide by the Local Rules, the Court will not grant ex parte emergent relief in this case without the appearances of Defendants. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(b)(1) (explaining requirements for movant to seek ex parte emergent relief). Accordingly, the Court directs Plaintiffs to properly notice and serve its Complaint consistent with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4. So Ordered by Judge Robert Kirsch on 04/29/2026. (pdm) (Entered: 04/29/2026)Open(opens another site)
4Exhibit to QC - Civil Cover Sheet JS44,, 1 Complaint,,, by MARIA LEMA. (BERUTTI, RONALD) (Entered: 04/29/2026)Open(opens another site)
5Letter from Stated Defendants regarding consolidation. (LYNCH, MATTHEW) (Entered: 04/29/2026)Open(opens another site)
6AMENDED COMPLAINT and Jury Demand against HASANI C. COUNCIL, JENNIFER DAVENPORT, MARILYN DUNHAM, JENNIFER HARRIS, LILY LAUX, DANIEL MACDONNELL, BRENDAN MCISAAC, filed by MARIA LEMA.(BERUTTI, RONALD) (Entered: 04/30/2026)Open(opens another site)
7SUMMONS Returned Executed by MARIA LEMA. HASANI C. COUNCIL served on 5/4/2026, answer due 5/26/2026. (BERUTTI, RONALD) (Entered: 05/07/2026)Open(opens another site)
8Letter from State Defendants advising of motion to consolidate. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(LYNCH, MATTHEW) (Entered: 05/08/2026)Open(opens another site)
9NOTICE of Appearance by JONATHAN F. COHEN on behalf of NEWARK BOARD OF EDUCATION (COHEN, JONATHAN) (Entered: 05/11/2026)Open(opens another site)
10NOTICE of Appearance by GWYNETH KATHLEEN MURRAY-NOLAN on behalf of MARIA LEMA, IRMA NUNEZ, ROBERT SHULL, CHRISTOPHER STADULIS, LAURIE VALENTI (MURRAY-NOLAN, GWYNETH) (Entered: 05/12/2026)Open(opens another site)
11SUMMONS Returned Executed by LAURIE VALENTI, ROBERT SHULL, IRMA NUNEZ, MARIA LEMA, CHRISTOPHER STADULIS. JENNIFER HARRIS served on 5/13/2026, answer due 6/3/2026. (BERUTTI, RONALD) (Entered: 05/15/2026)Open(opens another site)
12SUMMONS Returned Executed by LAURIE VALENTI, ROBERT SHULL, IRMA NUNEZ, MARIA LEMA, CHRISTOPHER STADULIS. BRENDAN MCISAAC served on 5/11/2026, answer due 6/1/2026. (BERUTTI, RONALD) (Entered: 05/15/2026)Open(opens another site)
13SUMMONS Returned Executed by LAURIE VALENTI, ROBERT SHULL, IRMA NUNEZ, MARIA LEMA, CHRISTOPHER STADULIS. MARILYN DUNHAM served on 5/7/2026, answer due 5/28/2026. (BERUTTI, RONALD) (Entered: 05/15/2026)Open(opens another site)
14ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SERVICE Executed by LAURIE VALENTI, ROBERT SHULL, IRMA NUNEZ, MARIA LEMA, CHRISTOPHER STADULIS. JENNIFER DAVENPORT served on 5/6/2026, answer due 5/27/2026. (BERUTTI, RONALD) (Entered: 05/15/2026)Open(opens another site)
15ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SERVICE Executed by LAURIE VALENTI, ROBERT SHULL, IRMA NUNEZ, MARIA LEMA, CHRISTOPHER STADULIS. LILY LAUX served on 5/6/2026, answer due 5/27/2026. (BERUTTI, RONALD) (Entered: 05/15/2026)Open(opens another site)
16TEXT ORDER: The Court is in receipt of Defendants' counsel's correspondence. (ECF Nos. 5, 8 .) In light of Defendants' motion to consolidate this case with case number 24-107 currently pending before the Honorable Georgette Castner, Defendants' obligations to answer or otherwise respond to Plaintiffs' Amended Complaint are hereby STAYED pending the resolution of that motion. (See ECF No. 130 in Docket No. 24-107.) The Court will revisit Defendants' obligations to respond in the instant matter following Judge Castner's decision on that motion. So Ordered by Judge Robert Kirsch on 05/18/2026. (pdm) (Entered: 05/18/2026)Open(opens another site)
17NOTICE of Appearance by JEFFREY L. SHANABERGER on behalf of JENNIFER HARRIS, BRENDAN MCISAAC (SHANABERGER, JEFFREY) (Entered: 05/28/2026)Open(opens another site)
18Application and Proposed Order for Clerk's Order to extend time to answer as to Jennifer Harris, Hackensack Board of Education, Brendan McIsaac, and North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional School District Board of Education. Attorney JEFFREY L. SHANABERGER for JENNIFER HARRIS,JEFFREY L. SHANABERGER for BRENDAN MCISAAC added. (SHANABERGER, JEFFREY) (Entered: 05/28/2026)Open(opens another site)
19TEXT ORDER: The Court is aware the motion to consolidate currently pending before the Honorable Georgette Castner, U.S.D.J. by the various New Jersey Defendants is now fully briefed. (See ECF Nos. 130, 133, 136 in Docket No. 24-107.) In light of that pending motion, the parties are directed to refrain from filing motions in this docket until Judge Castner rules on that motion to consolidate. All Defendants' obligations to answer or otherwise respond to Plaintiffs' Amended Complaint in this docket remain STAYED pending the resolution of that motion. (See ECF No. 16.) So Ordered by Judge Robert Kirsch on 05/28/2026. (pdm) (Entered: 05/28/2026)Open(opens another site)
20NOTICE of Appearance by FRANK P. CAVALLO, JR on behalf of MARILYN DUNHAM (CAVALLO, FRANK) (Entered: 06/04/2026)Open(opens another site)
21NOTICE of Appearance by MELISSA KOLASKI on behalf of MARILYN DUNHAM (KOLASKI, MELISSA) (Entered: 06/04/2026)Open(opens another site)
22SUMMONS Returned Executed by CHRISTOPHER STADULIS, IRMA NUNEZ, LAURIE VALENTI, MARIA LEMA, ROBERT SHULL. DANIEL MACDONNELL served on 5/18/2026, answer due 6/8/2026. (BERUTTI, RONALD) (Entered: 08/05/2026)Open(opens another site)
23MOTION for Order to Show Cause by MARIA LEMA. (Attachments: # 1 Brief in Support of OSC with Temporary Restraints, # 2 Declaration of Ronald A. Berutti in Support of Order to Show Cause with Temporary Restraints, including L. Civ. R. 65.1 Requirement, # 3 Exhibit A Verified Complaint pt. 1 of 3, # 4 Exhibit A Verified Complaint pt. 2 of 3, # 5 Exhibit A Verified Complaint pt. 3 of 3, # 6 Exhibit B Amended Complaint, # 7 Exhibit C Text Order May 28, 2026, # 8 Exhibit D Memorandum Order Dated July 30, 2026)(BERUTTI, RONALD) (Entered: 08/05/2026)Open(opens another site)
24Letter from State Defendants about expedited schedule request re 23 MOTION for Order to Show Cause . (LYNCH, MATTHEW) (Entered: 08/13/2026)Open(opens another site)
25Letter re 24 Letter, 23 MOTION for Order to Show Cause . (COHEN, JONATHAN) (Entered: 08/13/2026)Open(opens another site)
26NOTICE of Appearance by VERONICA ACEVEDO on behalf of NEWARK BOARD OF EDUCATION (ACEVEDO, VERONICA) (Entered: 08/14/2026)Open(opens another site)
27NOTICE of Appearance by JEFFREY L. SHANABERGER on behalf of DANIEL MACDONNELL (SHANABERGER, JEFFREY) (Entered: 08/14/2026)Open(opens another site)
28Letter re 25 Letter, 23 MOTION for Order to Show Cause, 24 Letter. (SHANABERGER, JEFFREY) (Entered: 08/14/2026)Open(opens another site)
29Letter from Melissa S. Kolaski, Esq., atty for Deft., Marilyn Dunham re 23 MOTION for Order to Show Cause, 24 Letter. (KOLASKI, MELISSA) (Entered: 08/14/2026)Open(opens another site)
30Letter from Ronald A. Berutti regarding OSC return date re 25 Letter, 23 MOTION for Order to Show Cause, 29 Letter, 24 Letter, 28 Letter. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit TRO in Doe v. Cohen, MON-L-3225-26)(BERUTTI, RONALD) (Entered: 08/18/2026)Open(opens another site)
31MOTION to Intervene by Scott Medwin. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Intervene, # 2 Certification Certification of Counsel, # 3 Exhibit Ex. A - Guidance, # 4 Exhibit Ex. B - CRSD Policy 5756, # 5 Exhibit Ex. C - Original Amended Complaint, # 6 Exhibit Proposed Intervenor Complaint, # 7 Text of Proposed Order Proposed Order, # 8 Certificate of Service Certificate of Service)(WHITE, KARYN) (Entered: 08/20/2026)Open(opens another site)
32BRIEF in Opposition filed by NEWARK BOARD OF EDUCATION re 23 MOTION for Order to Show Cause For a Temporary Restraining Order and a Preliminary Injunction (COHEN, JONATHAN) (Entered: 08/25/2026)Open(opens another site)
33BRIEF in Opposition filed by MARILYN DUNHAM re 23 MOTION for Order to Show Cause (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit Exhibit B, # 3 Certification Counsel Certification, # 4 Text of Proposed Order Order, # 5 Certificate of Service Cert of Service)(CAVALLO, FRANK) (Entered: 08/25/2026)Open(opens another site)
34BRIEF in Opposition filed by JENNIFER DAVENPORT, LILY LAUX re 23 MOTION for Order to Show Cause (Attachments: # 1 Certificate of Service)(LYNCH, MATTHEW) (Entered: 08/25/2026)Open(opens another site)
35BRIEF in Opposition filed by JENNIFER HARRIS, DANIEL MACDONNELL, BRENDAN MCISAAC re 23 MOTION for Order to Show Cause (SHANABERGER, JEFFREY) (Entered: 08/26/2026)Open(opens another site)
36MOTION for Leave to Appear Amicus Curiae by AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF NEW JERSEY, EDUCATION LAW CENTER, & GARDEN STATE EQUALITY EDUCATION FUND. (Attachments: # 1 Brief, # 2 Text of Proposed Order, # 3 Certification of Ezra D. Rosenberg, # 4 Certificate of Service)(ROSENBERG, EZRA) (Entered: 09/01/2026)Open(opens another site)
37REPLY to Response to Motion filed by MARIA LEMA re 23 MOTION for Order to Show Cause (BERUTTI, RONALD) (Entered: 09/01/2026)Open(opens another site)
38NOTICE of Appearance by JEANNE LOCICERO on behalf of AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF NEW JERSEY, EDUCATION LAW CENTER, & GARDEN STATE EQUALITY EDUCATION FUND (LOCICERO, JEANNE) (Entered: 09/02/2026)Open(opens another site)
39BRIEF in Opposition filed by MARILYN DUNHAM re 31 MOTION to Intervene filed by Scott Medwin (Attachments: # 1 Certification Counsel Certification, # 2 Exhibit Exhibit A, # 3 Exhibit Exhibit B, # 4 Text of Proposed Order Proposed Order, # 5 Certificate of Service Certification of Service)(KOLASKI, MELISSA) (Entered: 09/08/2026)Open(opens another site)
40NOTICE of Appearance by DILLON S REISMAN on behalf of AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF NEW JERSEY, EDUCATION LAW CENTER, & GARDEN STATE EQUALITY EDUCATION FUND (REISMAN, DILLON) (Entered: 09/08/2026)Open(opens another site)
41RESPONSE in Opposition filed by HASANI C. COUNCIL re 31 MOTION to Intervene (COHEN, JONATHAN) (Entered: 09/08/2026)Open(opens another site)
42BRIEF in Opposition filed by JENNIFER DAVENPORT, LILY LAUX re 31 MOTION to Intervene (Attachments: # 1 Certificate of Service)(LYNCH, MATTHEW) (Entered: 09/08/2026)Open(opens another site)
43NOTICE of Appearance by KARYN L. WHITE on behalf of Scott Medwin (WHITE, KARYN) (Entered: 09/09/2026)Open(opens another site)
44LETTER ORDER directing the parties to meet, confer, and inform the Court as soon as practicable, as to their positions on proposed approach regarding 23 Motion for Order to Show Cause. Signed by Judge Robert Kirsch on 9/9/2026. (mlh) (Entered: 09/09/2026)Open(opens another site)
45No descriptionOpen(opens another site)
46No descriptionOpen(opens another site)
47No descriptionOpen(opens another site)
48No descriptionOpen(opens another site)
No description
No description