PITTSBURGH — The attorneys representing the Butler School District and three former employees today made motions in federal court asking a judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed over lead and copper exposure at Summit Township Elementary School.

Briefs filed by the attorneys argue that Judge Arthur Schwab should dismiss the lawsuit for failing to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.

They point out that only one of the claims is a federal claim and cited a similar filing over water exposure in Michigan where a judge dismissed the lawsuit.

The local lawsuit, filed Feb. 11 and later amended to include more claims and defendants, was brought to court by attorneys with Dallas Hartman and Meyers Evans Lupetin and Unatin on behalf of district resident Jennifer Tait.

Tait, whose daughter attends Summit school, is suing the district, former superintendent Dr. Dale Lumley, former assistant superintendent Mary Wolf and former maintenance supervisor Glenn Terwilliger.

The attorneys filed in hopes that the lawsuit will become a class-action legal action on behalf of all students and other individuals who would have come in contact with the contaminated water.

The district is also being sued by its insurance providers who are arguing that they are not required to pay legal costs and any judgments relating to the Tait lawsuit.

District Solicitor Tom King said the plaintiffs will be allowed to respond to the motions before the judge makes a decision. The parties are also anticipating Schwab’s decision soon on the insurance lawsuit, King said.

A full report will appear in Friday's Butler Eagle.