Surviving Indian Creek School » Ten Lawyers vs. One Dad: A Conversation with Eric Hemphill

Ten Lawyers vs. One Dad: A Conversation with Eric Hemphill

In this interview‑style conversation, Eric Hemphill reflects on the legal, institutional, and personal battles he and his family have faced — and what comes next.

Q: Eric, where do things stand right now in your legal fight?

A: What we’re dealing with is a process full of delay and defects. We’ve seen motions filed late, filings with the wrong case numbers, arguments recycled even after the court already rejected them, and rulings that raise serious constitutional questions. None of it feels aimed at resolving anything. It feels like a strategy to exhaust anyone who pushes back.

Q: You’ve said before that the institution itself won’t be the one paying in the end. What do you mean by that?

A: The irony is that all this delay and damage control isn’t even protecting the school financially. If this goes where it’s headed, the insurance company will be the one paying. The school’s legal strategy — driven by Liff ,Walsh and Simmons and James Crossan and Janelle Lindstrom — seems more about shielding reputations than addressing the substance of what happened.

Q: The school has made some visible changes recently. What’s your take on that?

A: They’ve changed a lot of the things we raised concerns about long ago — quietly, without acknowledgment. At the same time, they’ve made big public‑facing moves, like bringing in ten Black student‑athletes for the basketball program. On paper, it looks like progress. But in reality, these kids were dropped into a private school environment without real support. No academic plan. No acclimation. No concern for their long‑term success. Just what they could do on the court.

Q: That raises some tough questions about intent.

A: Exactly. Are these students being valued as people, or displayed as props? Is diversity being embraced, or performed? If you’re going to bring kids into an environment like that, you owe them more than a jersey and a photo op.

Q: You’ve also talked about escalation — that the school’s response has gone beyond disagreement. What does that look like?

A: What’s happening now goes far beyond a simple dispute. They’re pushing a Show Cause / Constructive Civil Contempt proceeding that could put us in jail — even though the entire process, in my view, is built on unconstitutional foundations. They’re trying to use contempt as a weapon, not as a legitimate enforcement tool. Instead of addressing the underlying issues, they’re trying to criminalize our speech, our advocacy, and our refusal to accept procedures that don’t comply with basic due‑process requirements. It’s an attempt to silence us through fear of incarceration, not an attempt to resolve anything.

And the strangest part is that while they’re threatening jail on one hand, they’re quietly fixing the very problems they claim never existed. It’s reform without acknowledgment — and punishment without constitutional footing.

Q: You’ve said something powerful: “Ten lawyers can’t beat one dad.” What does that mean to you?

A: It means the truth outlasts the tactics. And honestly, the number isn’t even ten anymore. One of the attorneys who leaned heavily on what I would describe as “alternative facts” was removed from the case entirely — and, ironically, he had previously done political work on the Trump campaign. Now he’s playing a much smaller role at a different firm. Others seem to be stepping away on their own. The team that once looked massive and intimidating is shrinking, not because of anything I’ve done, but because the record speaks for itself.

So when I say “ten lawyers can’t beat one dad,” I’m talking about endurance. I’m talking about the fact that a parent fighting for their child will always outlast people who are just billing hours.

Q: What comes next for you?

A: I’m not backing down. I’m documenting everything. I’m working on a book, maybe even a screenplay, about what it means to navigate courts, corrupt actors, and institutional retaliation while trying to protect your child. If they won’t tell the story honestly, I will.

#TruthMatters
#FreeSpeech
#Accountability
#StandingUp
#JusticeDelayed
#Resilience
#OneDad