Families of former cadets suing a Salina military school for alleged abuse are fighting the academy’s effort to bar distribution of a video showing a student with two broken legs.

St. John’s Military School in Salina sought a protective order last week after The Associated Press requested comment on the cellphone video clip.

But in a response filed Wednesday in federal court, the families said the issue is moot because The AP has already distributed a story containing the video.

The school contends that it’s trying to protect students’ privacy rights. The plaintiffs countered that St. John’s is attempting to suppress media coverage of the litigation.