Parents of three Skiatook students drop lawsuit against school district

Robert M. Butler, the attorney for Phyllis and Woodrow Lockhart, said the lawsuit was dropped "because the principals involved are no longer there" and because "there seems to be a change of attitude" recently by the Skiatook school board toward concerned parents in the district.

But school attorney Doug Mann said the lawsuit has always been "meritless" and that the school board has always been sympathetic to those affected by the controversy.

Butler said that, to his knowledge, none of the three Lockhart girls was among the girls who were secretly videotaped. Mann said that has been apparent ever since the lawsuit was filed.

Mann said the case was dropped, not settled, and that nothing was promised in exchange.

The Lockharts sued former Superintendent Harry Red Eagle Sr. and Harry Red Eagle Jr., the latter of whom allegedly set up the locker room camera. The school district and school board also were named in the lawsuit.

Red Eagle Jr., a former Skiatook girls' basketball coach, is scheduled to go on trial June 16 in Osage County on six felony counts alleging that he videotaped girls undressing in their locker room.

Red Eagle Jr. quit his job in August. His father, who was not implicated in the taping but was criticized for his handling of the situation, announced in October that he would retire as superintendent.

Butler said his clients did not wish to pursue the case further.

"They don't want any money damages. This case wasn't about that," he said.