No. 20-402

Chad Richardson, et ux., Individually and as Parents and Next Friends of L v. Omaha School District

Lower Court: Eighth Circuit
Docketed: 2020-09-28
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
CVSGAmici (1)Relisted (2) Experienced Counsel
Tags: administrative-procedures administrative-proceedings attorneys-fees attorneys'-fees circuit-split civil-rights due-process IDEA idea-statute judicial-review limitations-period
Key Terms:
DueProcess Securities
Latest Conference: 2021-06-24 (distributed 2 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

What type of state statute of limitations should courts borrow for attorneys'-fees-actions under 20-U.S.C.-§-1415(i)(3)(B)(i)(I)?

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTION PRESENTED The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq., offers states federal funds for committing to provide a “free appropriate public education” for every child with a disability. Endrew F. ex rel. Joseph F. v. Douglas Cty. Sch. Dist. RE1, 18758. Ct. 988, 993-94 (2017). To enforce that guarantee, parents may initiate a “due process hearing” before a state or local IDEA hearing officer. 20 U.S.C. § 1415(f)(1)(A), (g). And if they are still “aggrieved” after exhausting administrative procedures, they may seek judicial review within 90 days, unless state law provides a_ different limitations period. Id. § 1415@)(2)(A), (B). The IDEA also provides a separate cause of action for attorneys’ fees for parents who prevail in those administrative proceedings. Jd. § 1415(i)(3)(B)G)(). But the IDEA contains no limitations period for prevailing parents’ attorneys’ fees actions. Given Congress’ silence, the Ninth and Eleventh Circuits borrow years-long state statutes of limitations, because they analogize fees actions to independent lawsuits separate from the underlying merits of the IDEA administrative proceedings. The Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Circuits, in contrast, borrow far shorter periods designed for judicial review of IDEA administrative merits decisions, because they find fees actions merely ancillary to the underlying educational dispute. The question presented is: What type of state statute of limitations should courts borrow for attorneys’ fees actions under 20 U.S.C. § 1415(i)(8)(B)()(1)?

Docket Entries

2021-06-28
Petition DENIED.
2021-06-08
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/24/2021.
2021-06-08
Supplemental brief of petitioner Chad and Tonya Richardson, Individually and as Parents and Next Friends of L filed. (Distributed)
2021-05-25
Brief amicus curiae of United States filed.
2021-01-11
The Acting Solicitor General is invited to file a brief in this case expressing the views of the United States.
2020-12-23
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/8/2021.
2020-12-23
Reply of petitioner Chad and Tonya Richardson, Individually and as Parents and Next Friends of L filed. (Distributed)
2020-12-04
Brief of respondent Omaha School District in opposition filed.
2020-10-13
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including December 4, 2020.
2020-10-09
Motion to extend the time to file a response from October 28, 2020 to December 4, 2020, submitted to The Clerk.
2020-09-23
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due October 28, 2020)

Attorneys

Chad and Tonya Richardson, Individually and as Parents and Next Friends of L
Shay DvoretzkySkadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Petitioner
Omaha School District
Theane Evangelis KapurGibson, Dunn and Crutcher, LLP, Respondent
United States
Elizabeth B. PrelogarActing Solicitor General, Amicus