Judge Appointed in Bernstein High Fentanyl Death Lawsuits
A new judge has been assigned to oversee two consolidated lawsuits regarding a student overdose at a Los Angeles school.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Supervising Judge Lawrence Riff has appointed Judge Mark Kim to preside over two consolidated lawsuits against the Los Angeles Unified School District. These cases involve a 2022 fentanyl overdose death that occurred at Bernstein High School.
Why it matters
The change in judicial oversight follows a legal request from the school district to remove the previous judge, citing concerns of prejudice. This update impacts the ongoing litigation status for families seeking accountability in the 2022 tragedy.
The cases concern a 2022 student overdose at Bernstein High School, with lawsuits filed in December 2022 by Elena Perez and in October 2023 on behalf of student H.W. The district moved to remove Judge Janet Hong before Judge Mark Kim was named as the replacement.
The players
Los Angeles Unified School District
The public school system responsible for managing operations at Bernstein High School and defending against the pending litigation.
Judge Mark Kim
A judicial appointee to the Los Angeles Superior Court since 1998 who earned his law degree from Cornell University.
Supervising Judge Lawrence Riff
The administrative judge within the Los Angeles Superior Court responsible for reassigning the consolidated cases.
The details
The reassignment process began after Los Angeles Unified filed formal papers requesting Judge Janet Hong step aside due to claims of prejudice. Supervising Judge Lawrence Riff approved the change, leading Judge Hong to step down last Wednesday. Judge Mark Kim, a jurist appointed to the bench in 1998, will now manage both consolidated claims moving forward within the Los Angeles Superior Court system.
Timeline
1998: Judge Mark Kim was appointed to the bench.
2022: Student fentanyl overdose occurred at Bernstein High School.
December 2022: Elena Perez filed a lawsuit against the district.
October 2023: A second lawsuit was filed on behalf of student H.W.
Last Wednesday: Judge Janet Hong stepped aside from the cases.
The Home Front
This judicial reassignment follows the standard procedural framework for addressing claims of prejudice in civil litigation within the Los Angeles Superior Court. It marks a significant shift in the legal process following the procedural motions for judicial disqualification.
Families affected by district policies should monitor official court dockets for updates regarding future hearing dates. Consult with a qualified legal professional to understand how shifts in case management might affect individual claims or broader district accountability measures.
The takeaway
The reassignment of Judge Mark Kim resets the judicial oversight for the consolidated lawsuits linked to the 2022 Bernstein High School incident. Interested parties should track updates in the Los Angeles Superior Court system to remain informed on trial scheduling.
Further reading
Learn more about local school governance and safety initiatives in the Secondary Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by My News LA.
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