California Ordered to Pay $4.5M in Fees After Losing Landmark Parental Rights Case

Federal court rules state must pay attorneys' fees to Thomas More Society after Supreme Court victory in Mirabelli v. Bonta case.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 10:06pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A federal court has ordered the State of California to pay $4.52 million in attorneys' fees to the Thomas More Society after the organization won a landmark parental rights case, Mirabelli v. Bonta, at the U.S. Supreme Court. The case challenged California's policy of concealing children's gender transitions from their parents, which the Supreme Court ruled violated parents' constitutional rights.

Why it matters

This ruling sends a strong message to state governments and school districts across the country that they will face significant financial consequences if they attempt to trample on the fundamental rights of parents. The case has national implications for parental involvement in their children's education and healthcare decisions.

The details

In an eight-page order, U.S. District Judge Roger T. Benitez of the Southern District of California granted the full $4.52 million fee petition, placing the blame for the size of the fee on California's own 'litigation intransigence' - including repeated meritless motions to dismiss, filing an appeal without waiting for the court's ruling, and withdrawing arguments shown to be 'inarguably meritless.' The fee award was granted with a rare 1.25 lodestar multiplier, reserved for cases of exceptional importance and outstanding results.

  • The Thomas More Society filed the case in April 2023.
  • In September 2023, Judge Benitez issued a groundbreaking preliminary injunction.
  • In 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Thomas More Society, reversing the Ninth Circuit and reinstating a class-wide permanent injunction protecting parents' rights.
  • On April 1, 2026, the federal court ordered California to pay the $4.52 million in attorneys' fees.

The players

Thomas More Society

A not-for-profit, national public interest law firm dedicated to restoring respect in law for life, family, and religious liberty.

Elizabeth Mirabelli and Lori Ann West

Two award-winning middle school teachers who were denied religious accommodations by Escondido Union School District from California's statewide policies requiring school staff to conceal students' gender transitions from parents.

U.S. District Judge Roger T. Benitez

The federal judge who ordered California to pay the $4.52 million in attorneys' fees.

Peter Breen

Executive Vice President and Head of Litigation at Thomas More Society.

Paul M. Jonna

Special Counsel at Thomas More Society and Partner at LiMandri & Jonna LLP.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“A $4.5 million fee award sends an unmistakable message to state governments and school districts across the country: if you trample the constitutional rights of parents, you will pay for it—literally.”

— Peter Breen, Executive Vice President and Head of Litigation at Thomas More Society

“California fought this case at every turn with meritless arguments and procedural gamesmanship. The writing was on the wall in September 2023, when Judge Benitez issued a ground-breaking Preliminary Injunction with the controlling legal analysis. Rational government actors would have abandoned these dangerous policies then and there. Instead, California officials doubled down, wasted taxpayer resources, and left them holding the bag for this $4.5 million fee award.”

— Paul M. Jonna, Special Counsel at Thomas More Society and Partner at LiMandri & Jonna LLP

What’s next

The Thomas More Society has stated they will continue to enforce the Mirabelli ruling nationwide, and any school district or state that tries to cut parents out of their children's lives should expect the same result.

The takeaway

This landmark ruling upholds the fundamental rights of parents and sends a clear message to state governments that they will face significant financial consequences if they attempt to violate those rights. It sets an important precedent that could impact parental involvement policies across the country.