L.C. v. Laurel Sch. Dist.
L.C. v. Laurel Sch. Dist.
Opinion of the Court
Federal law protects children with defined learning challenges by allowing parents and school districts to appeal decisions from fact-finding administrative hearing panels to us. We today address what happens when the parents bringing an appeal of limited issues terminate parental rights and a volunteer state appointed educational surrogate parent disagrees both with the hearing panel and with the parents' earlier-filed appeal. The educational surrogate parent wants to dismiss the child's claims-now close to resolution-for limited relief without consideration. She cites no harm to the child or loss of time or money to her. We are not bound by the educational surrogate parent's decision; instead, we must focus on the child's best interest before we dismiss these pending claims for expanded services on her behalf for no consideration. We expect the educational surrogate parent will act in the child's best interests and follow the hearing panel and our Order. While we are concerned with the educational surrogate parent's possibly uninformed view to date, we will not appoint another guardian ad litem for purposes of this case absent evidence the educational surrogate parent is not acting in the child's best interest and without a suitable guardian. We are close to resolving these important issues. Dismissal of claims now without consideration is not in the child's best interests. We deny the school district's motion to dismiss and the cross-motion for appointment of a guardian ad litem in the accompanying Order.
I. Relevant facts adduced from briefs and our best interests hearing.
Twelve year old L.C. suffers from idiopathic intracranial hypertension and has significant fine motor and sensor needs.
In 2012, B.C. and A.Z. adopted L.C.
Two months later, L.C. experienced homicidal ideations resulting in a stay with the Rockford Center inpatient program for over a month.
a. Due Process Hearing Panel's April 21, 2017 Order.
The following school year, L.C.'s adoptive parents expressed concerns about the evaluation summary report the IEP team relied upon to create her educational plan for the year.
On April 21, 2017, the Due Process Hearing Panel ordered the District fund an independent psychiatric assessment and independent functional behavioral assessment.
b. L.C. sues the District appealing parts of the Hearing Panel's Order.
Ninety days later, L.C., through her counsel The McAndrews Firm, sued the *269District under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ("IDEA").
The District did not appeal the Hearing Panel's April 21, 2017 Order.
c. After suit, the adoptive parents terminate rights and the state appoints fiduciaries to protect L.C.
For reasons immaterial to our issues today, L.C.'s adoptive parents agreed to terminate their parental rights over L.C. after beginning this case. The state stepped in to protect L.C.
The Family Court terminated B.C. and A.Z.'s parental rights of L.C. upon consent.
The Delaware Department of Education appointed Linda Lett as an educational surrogate parent for L.C.
d. L.C. moves for judgment on the Panel's alleged error.
Back in our Court, L.C. through her counsel timely moved for judgment on the administrative record arguing the Hearing Panel erred in limiting the choice of evaluators for the mandated assessments and requiring the District repeat certain assessments, rather than provide for independent evaluations.
During the pendency of L.C.'s motion for judgment based on the administrative record, the District moved to dismiss.
We held a hearing on February 15, 2018 for Ms. Lett to show cause as to whether dismissing the claim for an expanded list of potential evaluators is in L.C.'s best interest.
Ms. Lett told us why she thought the assessments were not necessary. Ms. Lett *271explained the testing would be duplicative and not provide the District with new information about L.C.
It became clear at the best interest hearing Ms. Lett did not understand the nature of relief sought in L.C.'s complaint. Ms. Lett believed the lawsuit related to the merits of whether the assessments ordered to be completed by the Hearing Panel would take place.
At the hearing we also heard from Kathie Herel, Coordinator of the Educational Surrogate Parent Program. Ms. Herel explained she never faced a similar issue we face today where the Hearing Panel ordered certain tests to be completed and the educational surrogate disagreed with the findings and seeks discontinuation of a lawsuit challenging certain aspects of the Hearing Panel's Order.
At the conclusion of the hearing where we clarified the Hearing Panel's April 17, 2017 Order under appeal, we directed Ms. Lett to provide her updated position to The McAndrews Firm.
After receiving Ms. Lett's continuing position, The McAndrews Firm moved for the appointment of a guardian ad litem. L.C.'s counsel argues Ms. Lett is not pursuing L.C.'s best interests because Ms. Lett wants to voluntarily dismiss this litigation without offering valid justification and without consideration from the District. The McAndrews Firm expresses concern Ms. Lett will not enforce the Hearing Panel's Order given her position the testing is unnecessary. The District opposes the appointment of a guardian ad litem. The District argues it is unnecessary to appoint a guardian because Ms. Lett is acting as L.C.'s representative in this litigation and has the right to discontinue the lawsuit and Attorney Soucek is already appointed as a guardian.
II. Analysis
We must decide only whether dismissing this case, particularly at this late stage with little or no further involvement from L.C.'s counsel and with no consideration in exchange, is in L.C.'s best interests and whether we can proceed in this IDEA appeal given Ms. Lett's interest in discontinuing the appeal.
IDEA provides children with disabilities in participating states an enforceable substantive right to a free appropriate public education and conditions federal aid on the state's "compliance with the substantive and procedural goals of [the statute]."
We need to ensure Ms. Lett understands the April 17, 2017 Order of the due process hearing panel is a final decision which, absent our modification, must be followed. A party may appeal the order.
IDEA'S procedural safeguards provide parents a means of enforcing the statute's substantive requirements.
A. L.C. has standing to pursue her appeal.
The District argues we should dismiss L.C.'s complaint for lack of standing because the Family Court terminated L.C.'s adoptive parent's parental rights after filing the complaint. The District argues the McAndrews Firm does not have a client with authority to act on L.C.'s behalf and the only person with authority, Ms. Lett, wishes to discontinue the case.
IDEA allows a parent of a disabled child to file a complaint "with respect to any matter relating to the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of the child, or the provision of a free appropriate public education to such a child."
Against this backdrop, we must consider what happens to the child's claim when an appointed surrogate parent abandons arguments for no consideration which could benefit the child with little or no risk. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17(c)(1) provides a general guardian, a committee, a conservator, or a like fiduciary may sue or defend on behalf of a minor or incompetent person.
"District courts have a special duty, derived from [ Rule 17 ] to safeguard the interests of litigants who are minors."
The School District seeks dismissal based solely on Ms. Lett's decision. Relying on Driessen v. Miami-Dade Cnty. Sch. Bd. ,
Our case is distinguishable from Driessen because Ms. Lett is a parent as defined under IDEA. Ms. Lett may maintain an action under IDEA as L.C.'s educational surrogate.
The District argues even if Ms. Lett may maintain the action on behalf of L.C., Ms. Lett wishes to discontinue the action and we should must allow Ms. Lett to voluntarily dismiss the complaint. At our best interest hearing, Ms. Lett expressed her desire to discontinue this lawsuit.
Unfortunately, it became clear at the best interest hearing Ms. Lett did not understand the nature of the relief sought in L.C.'s complaint. She disagrees with the April 17, 2017 Order. But the District did not appeal. The obligations are set. We explained to Ms. Lett the complaint filed on L.C.'s behalf does not challenge the determination the evaluations must be completed and the District does not challenge the Hearing Panel's findings.
Even recognizing Ms. Lett's status as L.C.'s parent under IDEA, we may reject her offered compromise of L.C.'s claim if the compromise is not in L.C.'s best interest.
We find no reason to dismiss L.C.'s claim, which seeks greater selection of evaluators for L.C.'s soon to be scheduled assessments. Maintaining this lawsuit comes at no expense or meaningful time commitment to Ms. Lett. Ms. Lett's belief the District is providing L.C. an appropriate education is not an appropriate reason to dismiss this action seeking independent evaluation of L.C. in certain upcoming assessments. The District and Ms. Lett have not adduced evidence continuing this litigation would be a disruption or burden to L.C.'s education.
Ms. Lett's concern the lawsuit will interfere with L.C.'s relationship with the District is unsupported.
We fully expect, and the District has not offered a reason for us to believe otherwise, the District will not retaliate against L.C. for maintaining this lawsuit. Because Ms. Lett is a parent under IDEA and may maintain this lawsuit on behalf of L.C. and finding Ms. Lett's request for voluntary dismissal of the complaint is not in L.C.'s best interest, we deny the District's motion to dismiss for lack of standing.
B. We deny L.C.'s present motion for appointment of guardian ad litem.
L.C. moves for the appointment of a guardian ad litem. L.C. argues Ms. Lett is not acting in her best interests as evidenced by Ms. Lett's desire to voluntarily dismiss this lawsuit without consideration from the District. L.C. argues Fed. R. Civ. P. 17 allows us to appoint a guardian ad litem when a minor and the minor's current representative face a conflict of interest.
Relying on Muse' B. v. Upper Darby Sch. Dist. ,
The District argues the appointment of guardian ad litem is not required because Ms. Lett is acting as L.C.'s representative in this lawsuit and has the authority to discontinue the litigation if she finds it in L.C.'s best interest. We already rejected this argument.
The District also cites the July 20, 2017 Family Court Order appointing Attorney Soucek as L.C.'s attorney in L.C.'s then pending dependency proceeding. The District argues we should not appoint a *277guardian ad litem in light of Attorney Soucek's appointment in Family Court.
We easily dispose of the District's argument we do not need a guardian based on Attorney Soucek's involvement. Attorney Soucek's appointment as L.C.'s child attorney in the dependency proceeding in Family Court is of no moment in this IDEA action. The Family Court appointed Attorney Soucek for the limited role of representing L.C. in her dependency proceeding in state court.
But L.C.'s counsel's argument for a guardian ad litem is also premature. In concluding we need not appoint guardian ad litem, we focus on the facts before us today. Unlike in Muse' B. , we do not face a present conflict of interest between L.C. and Ms. Lett to the point Ms. Lett's continued role as educational surrogate parent would interfere with L.C.'s best interests. As explained above, Ms. Lett is acting as L.C.'s representative and parent under IDEA and Fed. R. Civ. P. 17. L.C. has not adduced evidence Ms. Lett's continued role as educational surrogate parent and fiduciary under IDEA would interfere with the McAndrews Firm's rather limited prosecution of L.C.'s complaint challenging the Hearing Panel's order. Although we recognize Ms. Lett's desire to discontinue this litigation is not in L.C.'s best interest, L.C. has not adduced evidence demonstrating Ms. Lett's continued involvement would be detrimental to L.C. at this late stage. The McAndrews Firm already filed L.C.'s complaint and motion for judgment on the administrative record. Following the District's response in opposition to L.C.'s motion, we will be ready to assess the merits of L.C.'s claims.
We appreciate The McAndrews Firm's concern of potential issues relating to enforcement of the Hearing Panel's Order. After our February 15, 2018 hearing, Ms. Lett explained she accepts the Hearing Panel's Order and will work with the District to ensure all assessments are completed. Notwithstanding her promise relied upon by us, the McAndrews Firm speculates Ms. Lett will not actively enforce the Hearing Panel's Order given her stated position at the best interest hearing none of the testing is necessary or appropriate. This concern is compounded by the District's statement at the best interest hearing, "It's our position that the Panel's decision does exist. We would ask her for permission to do those evaluations. I guess if she refused to consent, then we can't move forward with it, but I don't think that that's the question for today."
Ms. Lett's disagreement with the Hearing Panel's Order may not serve as a basis to refuse ensuring compliance with the Order. The Hearing Panel's Order is not a recommendation and is written in mandatory language directing the District perform *278the assessments ordered.
We deny L.C.'s motion to appoint a guardian ad litem without prejudice to be renewed should L.C. and The McAndrews Firm believe Ms. Lett's and L.C.'s interests have diverged to the extent appointment of guardian ad litem is necessary. We trust Ms. Lett will do as she promised and, depending on our Order, work with the District to ensure all assessments are completed. She must protect L.C. first. Should Ms. Lett refuse to act in compliance with the Hearing Panel's Order or our Order, such failure to act may present a conflict of interest sufficient to appoint guardian ad litem as well as other possible judicial sanction for disobeying a court order. If further grounds arise, the McAndrews Firm can renew a motion for a guardian ad litem but must propose suitable guardians and whether the proposed guardian will volunteer or the terms of compensation for the proposed guardian including who will pay the guardian in this District.
III. Conclusion
Our accompanying Order is consistent with our limited role: did the Hearing Panel err in defining who will provide the assessments, not whether these assessments will be scheduled. We focus our analysis only on the District's motion to dismiss and L.C.'s motion to appoint guardian ad litem. Today, after extensive briefing, evidence adduced at a fairness hearing and considering argument from the District, L.C., and Ms. Lett, we deny both motions.
We deny the District's motion to dismiss as Ms. Lett is L.C.'s parent under IDEA and may maintain an action on her behalf under Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c). We deny L.C.'s motion for appointment of guardian ad litem because L.C. has not adduced evidence of a present conflict of interest between L.C. and Ms. Lett. We deny L.C.'s motion without prejudice to be renewed should L.C. adduce evidence Ms. Lett is not acting in L.C.'s best interests under Fed. R. Civ. P. 17.
ECF Doc. No. 1 ¶ 15.
Id. ¶¶ 14, 15.
Id. ¶ 14.
Id. ¶ 16.
Id. ¶ 17.
Id. ¶ 18.
Id. ¶ 19.
Id. ¶ 20.
Id. ¶ 23.
Id. ¶ 24.
Id. ¶ 25.
Id. ¶ 4.
Id. ¶ 5.
Id. ¶ 6.
ECF Doc. No. 25 at p. 7-8.
ECF Doc. No. 38 at p. 7.
13 Del. C. § 2504(f).
29 Del. C. § 9007A(c)(l).
ECF Doc. No. 38 at p. 9.
ECF Doc. No. 25 at p. 10-11.
Transcript of Hearing, February 15, 2018 at p. 31.
The District challenges our jurisdiction under Rule 12(b)(1). Rule 12(b)(1) motions fall into two categories; a facial or factual attack to jurisdiction. A facial attack "challenges subject matter jurisdiction without disputing the facts alleged in the complaint, and it requires the court to 'consider the allegations of the complaint as true.' " Davis v. Wells Fargo ,
The District makes a factual attack. The District challenges L.C.'s allegations in the complaint B.C. and A.Z. are L.C.'s parents and argues the post-filing termination of the L.C.'s adoptive parent's parental rights renders L.C. without standing to pursue her claims.
The District also moves for a stay on the briefing schedule on L.C.'s motion for judgment on the administrative record until resolution of its motion to dismiss. We extended the District's time to respond in opposition to L.C.'s motion for judgment to April 12, 2018. ECF Doc. No. 37. In addition to the several weeks since the McAndrews Firm's January 19, 2018 motion for judgment, the District still has just under three weeks from today's Order to prepare its opposition. We deny the District's motion for a further stay.
Due to illness, she could not travel to the courtroom but with counsels' consent, we heard from Ms. Lett by telephone.
Transcript of Hearing, February 15, 2018 at pp. 84-86.
Id. at pp. 36-38.
Id. at pp. 37.
Id. at pp. 37-38.
Id. at p. 38.
Id. at pp. 31-32, 53-57.
Id. at pp. 61-66.
Id. at p. 77.
Id. at p. 78.
Id. at p. 78.
Id. at pp. 80-81.
Id. at pp. 88-89.
ECF Doc. No. 34-1.
H.E. v. Walter D. Palmer Leadership Learning Partners Charter Sch. ,
See
See H.E. ,
Chambers v. Sch. Dist. of Phila. Bd. of Educ. ,
Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c)(1).
Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c)(2).
Sam M. v. Carcieri ,
Robidoux v. Rosengren ,
See e.g., Cooper v. Triwest Healthcare Alliance Corp. , No. 11-2965,
Salmeron v. United States ,
The Department's appointment papers specifically identify Ms. Lett's authority to act as L.C.'s parent under IDEA. ECF Doc. No. 25 at p. 11.
ECF Doc. No. 26 ¶ 10; ECF Doc. No. 38 p. 1.
See Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c)(1).
Transcript of Hearing, February 15, 2018 at p. 75.
Id. at p. 49.
Id. at p. 37.
Id. at p. 49.
Id. at p. 62-63.
See Salmeron ,
See H.E. ,
In their brief filed under our February 22, 2018 Order, the District claims Ms. Lett wishes to discontinue the action in part because she wants to maintain a harmonious relationship between L.C. and the District. ECF Doc. No. 34 at pp. 3-4.
No. 06-343,
Id. at *1.
Id. at *1-2.
Id. at *2.
Id. at *2.
Id. at *3.
Id. at *4.
Id. at *4-5.
ECF Doc. No. 38 at p. 7.
Id. at p. 9.
The District's response is due April 12, 2018.
Transcript of Hearing, February 15, 2018 at p. 62-63.
ECF Doc. No. 7-1 at pp. 7-10.
See H.E. ,
ECF Doc. No. 34-1.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- L.C. v. LAUREL SCHOOL DISTRICT
- Status
- Published