Former Beverly Hills High School teacher Joanie Garratt, right, had alleged she lost her job due to a post on her personal Facebook page. (photo courtesy of V. James DeSimone via Instagram)

Former Beverly Hills High School teacher Joanie Garratt said she will no longer pursue legal action against the Beverly Hills Unified School District, abandoning plans to file a federal civil rights lawsuit after dismissing her state court case earlier this month.

Garratt told the Beverly Press on Sept. 25 that she has decided against pursuing either a state or federal lawsuit. She said the litigation had become difficult to separate from the rest of her life and was taking too great a toll on her wellbeing. Although Garratt said she remains confident in the merits of her claims, she determined that continuing the legal battle would be too stressful.

Garratt said her decision was not the result of a settlement with BHUSD.

Garratt filed a request on Sept. 11 to dismiss the lawsuit she brought against BHUSD in Los Angeles County Superior Court in August. Her attorney, V. James DeSimone, subsequently told the Beverly Press that Garratt planned to pursue a federal civil rights lawsuit instead.

At the time, DeSimone said Garratt intended to give the district an opportunity to resolve the dispute before filing in federal court.

Garratt’s case alleged that BHUSD retaliated against her over a post on her personal Facebook page that criticized President Donald Trump and a pro-Trump student demonstration at Beverly Hills High School following the November 2024 election.

Garratt, who worked for BHUSD for more than 30 years, retired from full-time teaching in 2023 but continued working as a substitute teacher and volunteering with the school’s Interact Club.

In November 2024, she accepted a long-term substitute assignment teaching AP U.S. History at BHHS. On Nov. 6, dozens of students participated in a pro-Trump demonstration on campus. Several Black students and fashion teacher Bella Ivory later alleged that students participating in the demonstration made racist remarks and targeted a classroom where the Black Student Union was meeting.

The following day, Garratt posted on Facebook that she was disheartened by what had occurred on campus and expressed concern for students she believed had been racially targeted. She also criticized Trump in the post.

Garratt maintained that she did not discuss the post or her political views with students.

According to the lawsuit, Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Services Matthew Horvath contacted Garratt after the Facebook post was brought to his attention. Garratt alleged that Horvath later told her the district did not want her to return to the classroom because of the post.

BHUSD disputed Garratt’s account. Then-Superintendent Michael Bregy said in December 2024 that Garratt remained a substitute teacher and that no action had been taken to dismiss her.

After Garratt filed suit in August, BHUSD again denied retaliating against her and said the district does not terminate employees for political statements made outside of work.

Garratt’s state lawsuit had alleged violations of the Bane Act, California labor and education laws and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

BHUSD and DeSimone did not respond to requests for comment.