Doucette v. Jacobs
Doucette v. Jacobs
Opinion of the Court
I. INTRODUCTION
The plaintiffs, Rachel and Michael Doucette, are the parents of a severely disabled child, B.D., who attended the Georgetown Public Schools ("GPS") from age three until he was able to obtain an out-of-district placement at age six. B.D. attended GPS under an Individualized Education Plan ("IEP") pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,
In addition to asserting state law claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress (Count I), negligence (Count II), loss of consortium (Count III), and negligent infliction of emotional distress (Count VI),
This matter is presently before the court on "Defendants' Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings" (Docket No. 48) and "Defendants' Supplemental Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings" (Docket No. 61),
After consideration of the parties' written submissions, including their supplemental briefing, and the parties' oral arguments, and for all of the reasons described herein, this court finds that the plaintiffs' federal law claims must be dismissed for failure to exhaust administrative remedies under the IDEA. This court declines to *464exercise jurisdiction over the remaining state claims. See Wilber v. Curtis,
II. STATEMENT OF FACTS
As the defendants have filed an answer to the complaint, their motion before the court is properly one for judgment on the pleadings, brought pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(c). See Aponte-Torres v. Univ. of P.R.,
Applying these principles, the relevant facts are as follows.
B.D. and His IEP
B.D. has Isodicentric Chromosome 15q Duplication Syndrome, a rare de novo genetic disorder. (See Am. Compl. ¶ 15). As described in the Amended Complaint:
As a consequence of this syndrome, B.D. has a number of substantial educational limitations, including global developmental delay, with a diagnosis of Pervasive Developmental Disability, Not Otherwise Specified (PDD, NOS), autistic spectrum disorder, seizure disorder, anxiety disorder, sleep disorder and gastrointestinal issues. B.D. also has been diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a history of choking, low muscle tone and balance defects, together with a high threshold for pain, limited ability to report injury or discomfort, sensory process disorder, visual problems, decreased personal safety awareness, maladaptive behaviors such as bolting and aggression, cognitive impairment, and communication deficits.
(Id. ). Furthermore, of significance to the issues before this court, "[c]hildren with Chromosome 15q Duplication Syndrome have an increased risk of sudden unexpected death (SUD)" caused by respiratory or cardiac arrest. (Id. ¶ 16). The plaintiffs contend that this increased risk "is typically correlated with seizure activity[,]" as a result of which "the prevention of seizures in such children is of critical importance." (Id. ).
In July 2009, when he was almost three years old, B.D. began attending Perley Elementary School ("Perley") in Georgetown. (Id. ¶ 19). At Perley, B.D. received special education and related services provided by GPS under an IEP developed pursuant to the IDEA and the Massachusetts Special Education statute, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 71B. (Id. ). "Pursuant to his IEP, *465B.D. received individual instruction, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language services both within and outside the classroom, home training by an aide, and ... a 1:1 aide trained in CPR and Heimlich maneuvers because of a risk of choking and a risk of bolting." (Id. ). Also pursuant to his IEP, B.D. attended school both during the regular school year and over the summer as part of an "Extended School Year" ("ESY") program. (Id. ).
B.D.'s parents were not satisfied with the services that B.D. was receiving at GPS. For example, but without limitation, as early as October 2009, three months after B.D. began attending Perley, B.D.'s parents expressed concerns to GPS, its administrators, educators and staff, based on Mrs. Doucette's personal observations, "that B.D. was not receiving the educational programming and services required under his IEP and these failures were placing his safety and well-being at risk." (Id. ¶ 20). When B.D. was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and a seizure disorder in December 2009, B.D.'s parents requested that his IEP be amended to include a Seizure Plan. (Id. ¶¶ 22-23). While the Seizure Plan was eventually added, according to B.D.'s parents, the appropriate personnel were never properly trained, and the Plan was not appropriately followed. (Id. ¶¶ 31-34).
From January to early March 2010, B.D.'s parents had B.D. evaluated by a number of medical specialists who recommended that an educational program that utilized, to a substantial degree, applied behavior analysis (ABA) methodology, including structured sensory breaks and discrete trials, be added to B.D.'s IEP. (Id. ¶ 25). On March 29, 2010, B.D.'s parents complained at an IEP team meeting at which the Superintendent and the Principal were in attendance, that B.D.'s placement at GPS was inappropriate because B.D. was not making educational progress and his developmental delays were increasing. (Id. ¶ 26). They also argued that B.D. should be immediately placed in an in-district or out-of-district placement that incorporated ABA methodologies. (Id. ). Members of B.D.'s IEP team "disagreed that B.D. was not making educational progress, that he needed structured sensory breaks, or that GPS was an inappropriate placement." (Id. ).
After the March 2010 IEP team meeting, B.D.'s parents continued to complain verbally and in emails to GPS, its administrators, educators and staff, that B.D.'s safety and well-being were at risk because the school "was not implementing the kinds of interventions he needed to learn, that his aides were not appropriately trained, that he was not receiving sufficient sensory therapies, that he was not being monitored closely and was bolting from class, that he was becoming more aggressive toward other students, and that, after falling and hitting his head, his medical condition and disability were not taken into consideration and he was not provided proper care." (Id. ¶ 27). As a result of these concerns, on May 10, 2010, B.D.'s parents removed B.D. from Perley, and B.D. remained out of school until September 2, 2010. (Id. ).
The 2010 BSEA Hearing
On July 12, 2010, B.D.'s parents filed a Request for Hearing with the Massachusetts Bureau of Special Education Appeals ("BSEA"), seeking an out-of-district placement for B.D. for the 2010-2011 school year on the basis that GPS's proposed IEP was inappropriate. (Id. ¶ 28). B.D.'s parents also sought compensatory services for the time B.D. had been out of school. (Id. ).
After conducting hearings in late August 2010, the BSEA hearing officer found that B.D.'s proposed IEP "was not appropriate and not reasonably calculated to provide *466B.D. with a free and appropriate public education ("FAPE") in the least restrictive environment[.]" (Id. ¶ 29). Nevertheless, the hearing officer found that GPS was an appropriate placement because "GPS could amend the IEP to make it appropriate through additions and modifications," and because GPS "had the capacity to develop an appropriate ABA-based substantially-separate classroom placement for B.D. at the start of the 2010-2011 school year." (Id. ). Plaintiffs allege that based on the BSEA decision and on explicit assurances from GPS "that it would develop an ABA-based, substantially separate Transition classroom that would be ready for the September 2010 start of school, and that an Individual Student Safety Plan and Seizure Plan would be integrated in his IEP," they allowed B.D. to return to Perley in September 2010. (Id. ¶ 30). As detailed below, the plaintiffs were of the opinion that the defendants never fulfilled their obligations under the IEP or provided the services that B.D. needed and to which he was entitled. However, they never filed any additional administrative claims.
B.D.'s Service Dog
B.D.'s seizure activity increased after he returned to school. (Id. ¶¶ 31-32). B.D.'s parents allege that despite assurances to the contrary, the defendants were not prepared to handle B.D.'s seizure activity appropriately. (Id. ¶ 32). As a result, B.D. was inappropriately sent home on occasion. (Id. ¶ 33). This caused B.D. to lose educational and developmental opportunities and to suffer a disruption in his schedules and routines. (Id. ¶¶ 32-33).
In September 2011, B.D. began attending Kindergarten at Perley. (Id. ¶ 34). Shortly thereafter, in or about November 2011, B.D. privately received a specially trained and certified service dog that provided "autism assistance service, facilitated guide, search and rescue, and assistance with behavior disruption, anxiety, balance and seizure alerting, all of which were of benefit to B.D." (Id. ¶ 35). B.D.'s parents allege that "[t]he service dog permitted B.D. to develop some independence and confidence and helped him bridge social barriers" and that "B.D.'s behavior in social situations improved when his service dog was present." (Id. ¶ 36). Nevertheless, B.D. was not permitted to bring his service dog to school. (Id. ¶ 37). This denial constitutes the basis of the plaintiffs' Rehabilitation Act claim.
In or about the spring of 2012, B.D. began exhibiting increased anxiety, staring, and inattention, and the Principal and B.D.'s mother discussed whether the use of B.D.'s service dog in school would help with B.D.'s anxiety. (Id. ¶ 39). However, the plaintiffs allege that the School Committee and Superintendent "blocked B.D.'s access to his service dog." (Id.). Specifically, B.D.'s parents allege that "[i]n order for B.D. to have access to his service dog with GPS as the handler, [B.D.'s parents] were requested to sign and agree to a School Committee approved policy that was in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)." (Id. ). B.D.'s parents allegedly declined to sign and agree to the policy. (Id. ). B.D.'s parents also allege that the Superintendent "directed the performance of a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) to determine whether B.D. required the use of a service dog as an accommodation and to determine whether the IEP would be amended to include a service dog as an accommodation. The FBA data was to be collected in a trial period to take place during the academic school year, not during ESY and with B.D.'s mother present as the [dog's] handler." (Id. ). No further details regarding this FBA are provided.
The 2012 ESY Program and B.D.'s Seizures
The 2012 ESY program was held at Penn Brook Elementary School ("Penn *467Brook") as opposed to its previous location at B.D.'s school, Perley. (Id. ¶ 43). As represented by the parties at oral argument, the location change was due to necessary repairs at Perley. B.D.'s parents were very upset by the location change, and were very concerned that Penn Brook would not be a safe facility for B.D. and that GPS would not be able to implement B.D.'s IEP appropriately there. (Id. ¶¶ 45-46). In their view, the defendants never lived up to their assurances that the ESY program would be ready and appropriate for B.D. (Id. ¶¶ 46-47).
Plaintiffs allege that from the start of the 2012 ESY program, GPS failed to appropriately implement B.D.'s IEP. (Id. ¶¶ 46-48). For example, B.D.'s parents allege that pursuant to his IEP in effect at that time, B.D. was to have:
limited environmental stimuli, special consideration for his sensory processing needs in any larger group environment, a "quiet area" such as a "tent and/or pillow area" for "quiet time," picture schedule, picture supports such as a choice board, first/then board, mini schedules, "consistent routine," transition cues, preferential seating for sensory needs, a slant board, supported seating that provided 90/90/90 degree angles (Rifton chair), discrete trials, preparation "for planned changes in staffing/schedule," [and] structured sensory breaks[.]
(Id. ¶ 47). Nevertheless, "many of these accommodations were not provided." (Id. ).
On July 5, 2012, while at ESY at Penn Brook, B.D. experienced a tonic-clonic seizure, which lasted over twenty minutes and required the administration of Diastat gel. (Id. ¶ 51). 911 was called and B.D. was transported by ambulance to Lawrence General Hospital. (Id. ). As a result of this seizure, B.D.'s doctor prescribed Keppra in addition to his other medications. (Id. ).
On July 6, 2012, B.D.'s parents "demanded that B.D.'s IEP be amended and that his service dog be added as an accommodation effective immediately." (Id. ¶ 52). GPS and the School Committee "denied the Parents' request and refused to amend B.D.'s IEP to include a service dog as an accommodation." (Id. ). However, they allowed B.D. to bring his service dog to school with his mother as the dog's handler, on a trial basis beginning on or about July 10, 2012. (Id. ).
B.D.'s parents continued to express their concern that B.D.'s aide/special education teacher was not appropriately trained, and that "the constant program changes and inconsistencies in how his IEP was being implemented" contributed to increased aggressive behavior and anxiety on the part of B.D. (Id. ¶¶ 53-54). However, nothing improved. (Id. ¶ 54). On July 18, 2012, while attending the ESY program, B.D.
*468suffered a second tonic-clonic seizure "reported as two (2) separate seizures, one lasting forty-five (45) seconds and a second lasting twenty-five (25) minutes, and require[ing] the administration of Diastat gel." (Id. ¶ 55). 911 was called and B.D. was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital ("MGH"). (Id. ). B.D.'s doctor adjusted his medications. (Id. ).
On July 26, 2012, one of B.D.'s doctors noted that B.D. had "regressed a bit in his development over the summer with less academic support" and that his gastrointestinal issues had worsened. (Id. ¶ 57). On July 30, 2012, B.D.'s parents met with the Special Education Director, the Principal, and the Superintendent and took the position that B.D.'s "continued placement at GPS was inappropriate, that B.D. was at risk [there], and that GPS had failed to take actions to effectively mitigate those risks." (Id. ¶ 58). B.D.'s parents allege that "GPS continued to refuse to consider the continuum of educational placements for B.D. as required under his IEP." (Id. ).
On July 31, 2012, while attending his ESY program, B.D. suffered a third tonic-clonic seizure which lasted approximately eight minutes and required the administration of Diastat gel. (Id. ¶ 59). 911 was called and B.D. was transported to Lawrence General Hospital. (Id. ).
Then, on August 6, 2012, while attending his ESY program, B.D. suffered a fourth tonic-clonic seizure which lasted approximately eleven minutes and required the administration of Diastat gel. (Id. ¶ 60). 911 was called and B.D. was transported to MGH. (Id. ). On that same day, B.D.'s mother communicated to the Superintendent, the Principal, and the Special Education Director that "the most probable cause for B.D.'s extraordinary increase in seizure activity over the past month" was GPS's "extremely poor and ineffective" implementation of B.D.'s IEP and GPS's "unacceptable" "lack of planning, training and execution [of his IEP]." (Id. ¶ 61). B.D.'s mother also expressed her concern that B.D.'s ESY placement was not only inappropriate, but was also unsafe. (Id. ). B.D.'s parents would no longer "subject their son to unsafe, unhealthy and life threatening situations at GPS, and wanted answers as to GPS's proposed plan to implement the agreed upon services and education in a safe and appropriate learning environment." (Id. ). B.D.'s parents then removed B.D. from GPS. (Id. ¶ 62).
On August 13, 2012, the Superintendent advised B.D.'s mother that "her questions needed to be answered by 'the team' " and that "input from medical personnel should also be considered." (Id. ¶ 63). The Superintendent also advised that she would work with the Principal and the Special Education Director to determine if GPS would offer compensatory services, and stated that she believed that GPS could provide "the program detailed in his IEP beginning in September without an out-of-school placement." (Id. ¶ 63). Despite input from B.D.'s doctor recommending that B.D. be removed from his current classroom setting, and kept out of school until an appropriate placement was located, on August 30, 2012, the Special Education Director advised B.D.'s parents that B.D.'s placement would remain at GPS, that GPS was expecting B.D. to attend the start of school on September 5, 2012, and that any "extended absences will be considered truancy." (Id. ¶¶ 64-65).
Shortly after arriving at Perley for the first day of school on September 5, 2012, B.D. suffered a fifth tonic-clonic seizure, which lasted approximately four minutes before the administration of Diastat gel. (Id. ¶ 66). 911 was called and B.D. was transported unresponsive to MGH. (Id. ). After B.D. suffered the fifth tonic-clonic seizure, his parents rescinded his educational *469placement at GPS. (Id. ¶ 67). He has not returned to the Georgetown schools since then.
B.D.'s Eye Examinations
In addition to defendants' refusal to allow B.D. to have his service dog, the plaintiffs further challenge the defendants' treatment of his visual impairment as being in violation of his constitutional rights. On March 23, 2012, B.D.'s parents had taken him to his pediatric ophthalmologist because he had failed a school vision screening. (Id. ¶ 41). B.D.'s doctor found B.D. to have depth perception issues and recommended that B.D. be evaluated by a Developmental Optometrist. (Id. ). B.D.'s parents then requested that GPS pay for the recommended evaluation, but "their request was denied." (Id. ). B.D.'s parents further allege that they "continued to request that B.D. be evaluated by a Developmental Optometrist" but "the request was declined by GPS" until July 6, 2012, the day after B.D.'s first tonic-clonic seizure at GPS. (Id. ). On that day, GPS informed the parents that GPS would pay for B.D. to be evaluated by an optometrist. (Id. ).
On or about July 19, 2012, B.D. was evaluated, at GPS's expense, by an optometrist, Dr. Robin S. Blair, who found his "vision performance 'unskilled,' his focusing ability 'passable,' and his eye teaming ability 'unskilled,' " recommended further testing, and referred B.D. to a practitioner who specialized in behavioral and developmental optometric vision care. (Id. ¶ 56). B.D.'s parents allege that the Special Education Director "denied the recommended further evaluation[,]" advising B.D.'s mother that GPS had "only agreed to the initial eye exam." (Id. ). These facts form the basis of plaintiffs' allegation that GPS violated the IDEA's "child find" provision
Out-of-District Placement and Subsequent Health Issues
In November 2012, GPS and the School Committee agreed to place B.D. in an extended evaluation in an out-of-district placement, and, after the evaluation period, agreed to an out-of-district placement. (Id. ¶¶ 67, 69-70). As of the filing of the amended complaint in this matter, B.D. has remained in an out-of-district placement. (Id. ¶ 75).
In April 2013, B.D. was diagnosed with Cerebral Visual Impairment. (Id. ¶ 72). On March 19, 2014, B.D. was admitted overnight to the Acute Psychiatric Services department at MGH due to "increased aggression, paranoia and hallucinations." (Id. ¶ 73). From May 9, 2014 until July 31, 2014, B.D. was hospitalized at Hampstead Hospital for severe aggression and hallucinations and was diagnosed with "Disruptive Behavior Disorder NOS and Psychotic Disorder NOS." (Id. ¶ 74).
According to the plaintiffs, B.D. has been attending Berkshire Meadows in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, since July 2014, "through his IEP" and "making developmental and educational progress." (Id. ¶ 75). Plaintiffs allege that B.D. has not suffered a seizure since being removed from GPS. (Id. ¶ 76).
*470Additional facts relevant to this court's analysis are described below where appropriate.
III. ANALYSIS
A. Standard of Review
As detailed above, a motion for judgment on the pleadings is analyzed under substantially the same standard as a motion to dismiss. Therefore, the court accepts as true all well-pleaded facts and draws all reasonable inferences in favor of the plaintiffs. Cooperman v. Individual, Inc.,
"The plausibility inquiry necessitates a two-step pavane." Garcia-Catalan v. United States,
Applying these principles to the instant case compels the conclusion that the defendants' motion for judgment on the pleadings must be allowed, as the plaintiffs have failed to exhaust their federal law claims.
B. Statutory Framework
The IDEA "offers federal funds to States in exchange for a commitment: to furnish a 'free appropriate public education'-more concisely known as a FAPE-to all children with certain physical or intellectual disabilities." Fry v. Napoleon Community Schs., --- U.S. ----,
A party "who proceeds through the state administrative procedure and is 'aggrieved by the findings and decision' of the independent hearing officer ... can bring a civil action in federal court."
What Types of Claims Need to be Exhausted
At issue in this motion for judgment on the pleadings is whether the plaintiffs needed to exhaust the administrative review process with respect to their claims under the Rehabilitation Act or
[the IDEA] ensures that children with disabilities receive needed special education services. One of its provisions, § 1415(1), addresses the Act's relationship with other laws protecting those children. Section 1415(1) makes clear that nothing in the IDEA "restrict[s] or limit[s] the rights [or] remedies" that other federal laws, including antidiscrimination statutes, confer on children with disabilities. At the same time, the section states that if a suit brought under such a law "seek[s] relief that is also available under" the IDEA, the plaintiff must first exhaust the IDEA's administrative procedures.
The Court further held that "in determining whether a suit indeed 'seeks' relief for such a denial [of a FAPE], a court should look to the substance, or gravamen, of the plaintiff's complaint."
The Court provided another piece of guidance regarding how to determine whether the gravamen of a complaint concerns the denial of a FAPE: "[a] further sign that the gravamen of a suit is the denial of a FAPE can emerge from the history of the proceedings. In particular, a court may consider that a plaintiff has previously invoked the IDEA's formal procedures to handle the dispute-thus starting to exhaust the Act's remedies before switching midstream."
Applying these principles to the instant case, this court concludes that the gravamen of the Doucettes' federal claims are for the denial of a FAPE, and, therefore, that they had to exhaust their administrative remedies. Their failure to do so mandates that their federal claims be dismissed.
C. Exhaustion of the Federal Claims was Required
Defendants argue that this court must enter judgment in their favor on plaintiffs' Rehabilitation Act and Section 1983 claims on the basis that plaintiffs were required, but failed, to exhaust their administrative remedies under the IDEA. Plaintiffs argue that the IDEA's exhaustion requirement does not apply to their claims, and, in the alternative, that they should be excused from complying with the exhaustion requirement on the grounds of futility and undue burden. For the reasons set forth below, this court finds that plaintiffs were required to exhaust their administrative remedies under the IDEA with respect to their Rehabilitation Act and Section 1983 claims, and are not excused from doing so.
Rehabilitation Act
Plaintiffs claim that the defendants' "refusal to permit B.D. access to his service dog in his educational setting" constituted a violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. (Am. Compl. ¶ 104). They argue that by that claim, they are not alleging the denial of a FAPE, but are only alleging discrimination on the basis of B.D.'s disability. (See Pl. Suppl. Opp. (Docket No. 66) at 4). This argument is not persuasive.
To determine whether plaintiffs seek relief under the IDEA, the court must evaluate the "gravamen" of the complaint. Fry,
As further evidence that the plaintiffs' claims relate to the denial of a FAPE, the plaintiffs "previously invoked the IDEA's formal procedures to handle the dispute[.]"
The plaintiffs attempt to segregate out the request that B.D. be allowed to bring his service dog with him to school as being distinct from his IEP. This argument is defeated by the allegations of the complaint, as well as logic. Plaintiffs specifically allege that they "demanded that B.D.'s IEP be amended and that his service dog be added as an accommodation" and that the defendants "denied the Parents' request and refused to amend B.D.'s IEP to include a service dog as an accommodation." (Id. ¶ 52; see also id. ¶ 39 (school considers a Functional Behavior Assessment "to determine whether the IEP would be amended to include a service dog as an accommodation.")). The plaintiffs' claims relating to the denial of B.D.'s use of service dog are part and parcel of their contentions about the failure of the defendants to provide a FAPE.
Moreover, the demand for the use of the service dog is the type of complaint that could appropriately be raised before the BSEA in connection with a challenge to an IEP. See Rose,
Section 1983
Defendants also argue that they are entitled to judgment in their favor on plaintiffs' Section 1983 claim because this claim is essentially an unexhausted IDEA claim. (See Defs. Mem. (Docket No. 49) at 6; Defs. Suppl. Mem. (Docket No. 62) at 2-4). Plaintiffs argue that the IDEA does not preclude them from recovering under Section 1983, and in the alternative, that they should be excused from exhausting their administrative remedies under the IDEA. For the reasons provided below, this court disagrees.
To state a claim under
It is well-established that " Section 1983 cannot be used as a vehicle for ADA or other statutory claims that provide their own frameworks for damages." M.M.R.-Z ex rel. Ramirez-Senda v. Puerto Rico,
The plaintiffs' substantive due process claim fares no better. As an initial matter, it is an open question whether a substantive due process claim can be maintained by a student against his or her school. See Pollard,
Finally, this court notes that in addition to the denial of the use of the service dog, the plaintiffs base their Section 1983 claim on the failure of the defendants to agree to an in-district or out-of-district placement and the failure to appropriately implement B.D.'s IEP. They also contend that GPS violated the IDEA's "child find" provision by delaying B.D.'s evaluation by an optometrist and, ultimately, denying B.D.'s evaluation by an optometric behavioral specialist. These specific objections are well-suited for evaluation by a BSEA hearing officer, especially given the broad scope of such hearings. See Rose,
D. The Plaintiffs Were Not Excused from the IDEA's Exhaustion Requirements
Plaintiffs argue that they should be excused from having exhausted their administrative remedies under the IDEA with respect to their Rehabilitation Act and Section 1983 claims on the grounds of futility and undue burden. This court disagrees.
"Exhaustion may not be required where the pursuit of administrative remedies would be futile or inadequate; waste resources, and work severe or irreparable harm on the litigant; or when issues raised involve purely legal questions." Pihl v. Mass. Dep't of Educ.,
In Frazier v. Fairhaven School Committee,
[e]xhaustion is beneficial regardless of whether the administrative process offers the specific form of remediation sought by a particular plaintiff. After all, the administrative process facilitates the *476compilation of a fully developed record by a factfinder versed in the educational needs of disabled children-and that record is an invaluable resource for a state or federal court required to adjudicate a subsequent civil action covering the same terrain.
The plaintiffs' other arguments are equally unavailing. For example, they argue that development of the factual record is not required in this case because the record has already been developed in the 2010 BSEA proceeding, and in connection with the parties' communications and agreement pertaining to B.D.'s IEP and eventual out-of-district placement. (See Pl. Opp. at 11-12). Similarly, plaintiffs argue that exhaustion should be excused on the basis that it would have been overly burdensome because plaintiffs had already adjudicated defendants' inability to implement B.D.'s IEP and provide for his education and safety needs in connection with the 2010 BSEA hearings. (Id. at 11). However, these arguments do not excuse exhaustion. The facts central to this matter, relating to the circumstances that allegedly caused B.D. to suffer seizures during the summer of 2012 (in other words, the failure to appropriately implement his IEP and provide the supports he needed), had not occurred at the time of the 2010 BSEA hearing and have yet to be determined.
Finally, plaintiffs argue that exhaustion is futile and should be excused because the condition creating the damage has ceased in that B.D. is no longer at GPS. (See Pl. Opp. at 10). This argument was expressly rejected by the Frazier court in response to an argument that exhaustion should not be required where the student had already graduated. Frazier,
In sum, proceedings before the BSEA would provide a reviewing court with valuable information in this case, including, without limitation, whether the service dog should have been added to the IEP, whether B.D. was entitled to further optometric services, whether an in or out-of-district placement was required after the 2010 BSEA decision but before GPS agreed to one, and whether the defendants were appropriately implementing B.D.'s IEP during the summer of 2012. The plaintiffs have not met their burden of establishing that exhaustion of administrative remedies would be futile or unduly burdensome, since such proceedings would involve issues not previously addressed by the BSEA. Since the plaintiffs have failed to exhaust their administrative remedies, the federal claims must be dismissed.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the reasons detailed herein, the defendants' Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings (Docket No. 48) and Supplemental Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings (Docket No. 61) are ALLOWED as to plaintiffs' Rehabilitation Act claim (Count IV) and Section 1983 claim (Count V). This court declines to exercise its pendant jurisdiction over the remaining state law claims, which are to be remanded to the state court.
The defendants are the Town of Georgetown, Massachusetts (the "Town"); the Georgetown School Committee (the "School Committee"); GPS; Carol C. Jacobs, who was the Superintendent of GPS (the "Superintendent"); Margaret Maher, who was the Principal of the Perley Elementary School and Penn Brook Elementary School that B.D. attended (the "Principal"); Cathleen Estep, Ph.D., who was the Interim Special Education Director for GPS (the "Interim Special Education Director"); and Donna F. Straight, who was the Special Education Director for GPS (the "Special Education Director"). The parents have sued the Superintendent, Principal, Interim Special Education Director, and Special Education Director (collectively, the "individual defendants") in their official and individual capacities.
The plaintiffs have voluntarily dismissed the claims of negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress against the individual defendants. (See Docket No. 51).
The defendants' Supplemental Motion (Docket No. 61) expands on their argument that the plaintiffs are not entitled to compensatory damages. Where convenient, the motions will be referred to collectively as a single motion for judgment on the pleadings.
While many facts about the sufficiency of the services provided are in dispute, the defendants admit that there was a delay in providing B.D. with his original slant board and Rifton chair. (Defs. Answer (Docket No. 21) ¶ 48).
The IDEA's "child find" provision states: "All children with disabilities residing in the State, ... regardless of the severity of their disabilities, and who are in need of special education and related services, are identified, located, and evaluated and a practical method is developed and implemented to determine which children with disabilities are currently receiving needed special education and related services." CBDE Public Schs. v. Mass. Bureau of Special Educ. Appeals, Civil Action Nos. 11-10874-DPW,
This court expresses no opinion as to whether the state law claims need to be exhausted before suit can be brought. The parties disagree as to this issue.
Moreover, as detailed above, the plaintiffs' Rehabilitation Act claim is, in essence a claim under the IDEA.
Moreover, the fact that GPS eventually agreed to an out-of-district placement does not mean that relevant, disputed facts have been established.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Rachel DOUCETTE v. Carol JACOBS
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- 3 cases
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- Published