Surviving Indian Creek School » Whistleblower Retaliation at Indian Creek School: A Family’s Fight for Truth, Justice, and Constitutional Survival

In 2024, Indian Creek School (ICS) and its leadership filed a defamation suit against Eric Hemphill and his son Evan, seeking to silence their whistleblower disclosures and suppress evidence of institutional misconduct. The Hemphills, acting pro se, are defending themselves against this retaliatory litigation while simultaneously exposing a broader pattern of abuse—one that implicates not only ICS, but the judiciary itself.

What began as a whistleblower case has escalated into a constitutional crisis. At stake are the rights to free speech, due process, and equal protection under Maryland law.

Judicial Overreach: Silencing the Whistleblowers

On July 29, 2025, Judge Robert J. Thompson of the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County issued a summary judgment and permanent injunction against the Hemphills—while discovery disputes were unresolved, motions to compel were pending, and ICS had failed to comply with the court’s own June 26 directive requiring discovery responses by July 15.

The order was not just premature. It was unlawful and unconstitutional.

Violations of Maryland Law and Procedure

Md. Rule 2-501(a) – Summary judgment may only be granted when there is no genuine dispute of material fact. In this case, discovery was incomplete and contested.
Md. Rule 2-433 – The court failed to consider sanctions for ICS’s discovery violations, despite a clear record of noncompliance.
Md. Rule 2-311(f) – The court failed to rule on properly filed motions to compel and for show cause before entering judgment.
Md. Rule 18-102.3(b) – Judge Thompson’s statement that he gives “officers of the court the benefit of the doubt” reflects explicit bias and violates judicial ethics.
Md. Declaration of Rights, Article 40 – The injunction restricts protected speech, violating the Hemphills’ constitutional right to speak publicly about matters of public concern.

The July 29 order didn’t protect children. It protected institutions. It bailed out ICS and their counsel, David Dorey of Liff, Walsh & Simmons, while punishing the very people trying to expose the truth.

In an interview, Eric Hemphill stated:

“I will not rest until justice is done. I am willing to accept any consequences that may come my way. If I sue the judge, it will trigger a deeper investigation. If I turn this matter into a criminal case, it will trigger a deeper investigation as well. I am aware of my options—all of them.”

The Defendants Behind the Retaliation

The complaint names six individuals whose actions form the backbone of the retaliation and cover-up:

Kyle Booth, Head of School
Rachel Barr, Chief of Staff
Freddie Newman, Athletic Director
Todd Kerr, Assistant Athletic Director
Jimmy Little, Basketball Coach
Eliza McLaren, Associate Head of School

These individuals are not peripheral. They are central actors in a coordinated campaign to silence, punish, and discredit whistleblowers.

Institutional and Vendor Collusion

The Board of Trustees and Executive Team of Indian Creek School are accused of orchestrating retaliation, suppressing disclosures, and interfering with employment. Two vendors are also implicated:

SAGE Dining Services, Inc. – Eric’s former employer
Brock & Company, Inc. – Allegedly colluded with ICS to replace SAGE and retaliate against whistleblowers

The Legal Upset: Pro Se Litigants vs. Liff, Walsh & Simmons

Representing ICS is David Dorey of Liff, Walsh & Simmons. Despite their institutional backing, the firm has suffered repeated defeats at the hands of Eric and Evan—two laypersons who have:

Survived motions to dismiss
Exposed procedural irregularities
Filed a compelling Mandamus Petition demanding judicial disqualification and reversal of unconstitutional orders

This is a legal David-and-Goliath story. The Hemphills have outmaneuvered seasoned litigators not with money or influence, but with truth, precision, and relentless advocacy.

Why This Case Matters

This case is not just about one school or one courtroom. It’s about every citizen’s right to speak, to petition, and to seek justice without retaliation. The Hemphills’ fight is a warning shot to institutions that abuse power and a rallying cry for:

Transparency in education
Accountability in the judiciary
Protection of whistleblowers
Defense of constitutional rights

The July 29 order will not stand. The record is being built. The truth is being documented. And the fight is far from over.

Hashtags for Advocacy & Reach

#WhistleblowerJustice #FreeSpeechUnderFire #JudicialAccountability #DueProcessMatters #RetaliationExposed #EducationReform #ConstitutionalRights #MarylandCourts #ProSePower #ChildSafetyNow #InstitutionalMisconduct #MandamusPetition #CivilRightsWatch #ExposeTheCoverup #LiffWalshSimmons #IndianCreekSchool #PublicInterestLitigation #LegalReform #TruthToPower #JusticeForEvan #the Wellington school