The Washington County Education Association along with its President and two other employees of the Washington County BOE filed a suit attempting to block the opening of Woodland Preparatory School. Christian & Small partners Michael A. Vercher, M. Jansen Voss, and David L. Faulkner filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on behalf of Washington County Students First and individuals associated with that entity.
The Washington County Circuit Court denied the motion and Christian & Small asked for an immediate appellate review via a Writ of Mandamus. In a unanimous decision released on June 5, 2020, the Alabama Court of Civil
Appeals granted the request directing the Washington County Circuit Court to dismiss the entire case. The Court held that the plaintiffs, including the Washington County Board of Education, had an available administrative remedy by way of initiating a review procedure with the Alabama Charter School Commission. As a result, the Washington County lawsuit was considered a collateral attack on the Charter School Commission application for Woodland Prep, an action that is barred by applicable law.