Attorneys on both sides of the lawsuit against Towson Catholic High School — aimed at reversing its closure — will meet with Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge Ruth Jakubowski in a preliminary hearing this Friday.

The 2 p.m. hearing will likely take place in the judge’s chambers rather than the courtroom, and will determine whether the case will go forward, according to Jakubowski’s office.

If all goes well at the Friday hearing, a formal courtroom hearing will be scheduled for a later date, according to Richard Grason VI, the lawyer representing the plaintiffs.

The lawsuit, which is primarily an injunction to force Towson Catholic High School to re-open for the 2009-10 academic year, was filed July 14 by Parkville residents Lois Windsor and Judy Messina, parents of Elisa Windsor and Hannah Messina, respectively, who expected to graduate from Towson Catholic next spring.

Eight parties are named as defendants in court documents, including the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Archbishop Edwin O’Brien, Immaculate Conception Parish, principal Clare Pitz and parish pastor the Rev. Dennis Tinder.

The lawsuit claims that the defendants “clandestinely plotted, without providing notice” to parents, alumni, parishioners or the public, “to undermine Towson Catholic and the promises … made to parents of Towson Catholic students to educate their children for the 2009-2010 academic school year.”

Statements from school officials and the Archdiocese of Baltimore cite falling enrollment, unpaid tuition and a bad economy as the reasons for the closure.

School officials have said that although the school tried eliminating programs and staff in recent months to stay afloat, a budget deficit of $650,000 remained.

Students, parents, alumni and others have protested the school’s closing since it was announced July 7, leaving parents and students less than two months to find a new school before classes begin.

Those opposed to the closure have staged several demonstrations and rallies outside of the school and outside of Immaculate Conception Church during Sunday Mass.

Paul Mecinski, president of the alumni association, said that on Thursday, the activities will continue with a silent auction and fundraiser from 5 to 9 p.m. at Padonia Station, a bar and grill on East Padonia Avenue in Lutherville.

Then, during the Friday hearing, demonstrators will gather 1:30 to 3 p.m. at Patriot Plaza, the fountain plaza between courthouses, in Towson, for a rally in support of the injunction, he said.

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