Private School Files Suit Against Public School Athletic League

The Virginia High School League (VHSL) is an organized, non-profit group designed for conducting athletic competitions among public high school districts. Liberty Christian Academy (LCA) is one of the private schools located in Lynchburg, Virginia. LCA filed a lawsuit against the high school league because they have been barred from joining the VHSL. The private school states that they are being unfairly excluded from athletic events and competitions. LCA alleges that the rules of the VHSL are similar to a group boycott and that it is an "unreasonable restraint of trade" which is a violation of both the federal and state antitrust laws. LCA has argued that this prohibition of non-public schools cannot be justified in terms of promoting competition. The VHSL rules exclude memberships with non-public schools but have yet to comment on the case. LCA complains that they are being unfairly segregated and excluded from competition; they are requesting that the public and private schools in the area be integrated into a single athletic association.