Lawyer urges Central Consolidated Schools to join multi‑district lawsuit over social media harms

Brian Cologne, managing partner of Singleton Triber, urged the Central Consolidated Schools board on Wednesday to consider joining a nationwide litigation he said seeks to hold major social‑media companies accountable for harms to students.

Cologne told the board that the lawsuits assert negligence and public‑nuisance claims tied to platform algorithms that, he said, were designed to increase user time and produce addictive behaviors. “Giant corporations don’t change behavior unless profits and the bottom line and social input forces them to change behavior,” Cologne said. He framed the litigation as both a potential recovery of damages and a way to press for “specific performance” — platform changes intended to protect children.

Cologne referenced a jury verdict and other outcomes he characterized as proof points: a New Mexico jury award he described as a $375 million civil verdict and a later phase seeking roughly $3.7 billion in damages, and a separate confidential settlement of about $27 million for one school district. He said the litigation now includes more than 200 school districts and thousands of plaintiffs but is facing delay tactics from defendants.

Board members pressed on practical concerns. Several trustees and Cologne discussed higher risks for Native American youth, given local isolation, intergenerational trauma and fewer community safety nets. “Native American youth face unique disproportionate risk,” a board member read from prepared notes, and members asked how joining litigation might affect use of platforms the district depends on for communications and instruction.

Cologne said districts participate via multi‑district mass actions rather than a class and described his firm’s proposed contingency retainer: the firm advances costs and the district would pay nothing unless there is a recovery. He added that many boards seek binding commitments to change platform behavior, not only monetary payments.

Why it matters: Board members said the issue speaks to student safety, classroom time and equity for rural and indigenous students. Trustees asked for more details about retainer language and operational impacts before deciding whether to place the litigation question on a future agenda.

What’s next: Cologne offered to provide a retainer template and supporting materials for the superintendent and legal counsel. The board did not vote on joining the litigation at the meeting; members requested follow‑up documentation and a possible agenda item for a future meeting.