Partners Ofer Shapira and Tirza Less-Gross together with Advocate Tal Rubinov successfully represented WIZO Israel (Women’s International Zionist Organization) in their motion for approval of a class-action lawsuit amounting to approximately 80 million NIS, which was filed against them in the Jerusalem District Court.
The essence of the lawsuit revolves around the allegation that in September 2021, the organizations implemented intensified security measures in their publicly funded preschools, known as “symbolic preschools.” As a result, the organizations are required to compensate the parents of the preschool children who allegedly suffered harm due to these security measures.
In the organizations’ response, submitted through our law firm, it was clarified, among other things, that the lawsuit should be dismissed, as it does not fall within the category of the second supplemental to the Class Actions Law. This is because the organizations, in their capacity as operators of symbolic preschools in the early childhood education field, carry out actions of a governmental and public nature as extended arms of the State of Israel.
It should be noted that the lawsuit is being filed independently and separate from it, and all parents have already been compensated for the relative portion of the supervised study fees for the hours and days during which the preschools did not operate due to the intensified security measures.
After three hearings, during which the District Attorney clarified the difficulties associated with managing the lawsuit, including the issue of the “business” aspect, the District Attorney recommended the dismissal of the lawsuit. On April 27, 2023, a court ruling was issued approving the dismissal.
