West Aurora High School, district sued over 2009 expulsion

A former West Aurora High School student is suing a teacher, District 129 and the school board, saying he was wrongly expelled after a teacher confiscated his cellphone.

Alexander Contini argued in a lawsuit recently filed in Kane County that the teacher embellished being shoved and having his arm yanked while confiscating the phone Oct. 1, 2009.

Contini seeks more than $50,000 damages for defamation, conspiracy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The suit argues that the teacher “purposefully, recklessly, untruthfully and falsely reported to officials of defendant West Aurora School District and the Aurora police department acts of misconduct and crimes committed by plaintiff Alexander Contini.”

Contini’s attorney, Alexander Kryder, also argues the teacher’s statements that Contini “shoved him several times” and “yanked his arm” were untrue and a surveillance tape will prove it.

Kryder also argues in the suit that the school board, which voted to expel Contini, failed to fully investigate what happened and purposefully held an expulsion hearing Oct. 14, 2009, when witnesses supporting Contini were unavailable because of standardized testing at the high school.

Contacted by phone, Kryder declined to comment on the suit itself or elaborate on Contini’s current status and education.

District 129 spokesman Mike Chapin said the district had not been served with the lawsuit and was unable to comment at this time.

Both sides are due for an initial court appearance before Judge Edward Schreiber April 25.