UTICA — The names of four individual Utica City School District Board of Education members were dropped Friday in Oneida County Court from a lawsuit brought against them by Superintendent Bruce Karam.

Board President Joseph Hobika Jr., Vice President Danielle Padula and members Tennille Knoop and James Paul were the “yes” votes in placing Karam on administrative leave Oct. 18. They were officially served legal papers right before the Dec. 13 board of education meeting, notifying them of Karam’s intent to sue.

Part of Karam’s complaint points to violations of open meeting laws he alleges were committed by those four board members. Fellow board members Robert Cardillo, Donald Dawes and David Testa were not named in the suit. They each had voted against placing Karam on administrative leave in October.

The board also approved a resolution at the Dec. 13 meeting promising the board would defend and indemnify the four board members — as well as Acting Superintendent Brian Nolan, who was appointed at the Oct. 18 meeting and continues his duties with the district — named in the litigation and authorize their defense counsel to assert any and all defense and counterclaims necessary.

Karam and his attorney announced their intention to drop the legal action against the four individual board members Friday in Oneida County Court.

“The Rule of Law prevailed, and I’m very pleased with the judge’s decision,” said Nolan, noting he was speaking strictly for himself.

Karam continues to be on paid administrative leave. He was named district superintendent in 2011. Before that, he served the district for 22 years as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and director of secondary education. HIs current contract runs through Jan. 31, 2027.

His attorney Giancarlo Facciponte of the Law Firm of Frank W. Miller in East Syracuse did not immediately return an emailed message seeking comment. Hobika was also unavailable for content by press time.