KENNETH BLOCK VS. SAN FRANCISCO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT ET AL

Matter on the Law & Motion/Discovery Calendar for Monday, May 18, 2026, line 12, 2 - DEFENDANT SAN FRANCISCO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT MOTION TO STRIKE 1ST Amended COMPLAINT

San Francisco Unified School District's motion to strike is granted in part and denied in part. Code of Civil Procedure Section 436 provides: "The court may, upon motion made pursuant to Section 435, or at any time in its discretion, and upon terms it deems proper: (a) Strike out any irrelevant, false, or improper matter inserted in any pleading..." (Code Civ. Proc., Sec. 436.)

Matter in pleadings is not irrelevant or improper simply because it is not narrowly tethered to a cause of action. A party may plead facts for context. The court denies the motion to strike insofar as it seeks to strike allegations arising prior to the limitations period and allegations regarding age or sex harassment. (See Richards v. CH2M Hill, Inc. (2001) 26 Cal.4th 798, 802.)

The court grants the motion to strike insofar as the SAC names Asoni Cooks by full name, with leave to amend. Block may identify the student by first name and last initial. The court denies the motion to strike student Amari's name; this identifies the student by first name only. With respect to the district's claim that harassment by students is irrelevant, the court disagrees; the allegations provide context. The court's role on a motion to strike is not to edit the complaint.

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