Fincham v. Palos Verdes Unified School District

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Fincham v. Palos Verdes Unified School District, 31 F. App'x 485 (9th Cir. 2002)

Fincham v. Palos Verdes Unified School District

Opinion of the Court

MEMORANDUM **

Cheyenne Fincham and her mother originally appealed from the district court’s order dismissing her complaint for injunctive relief and damages for failure to exhaust administrative remedies. Appellants have now acknowledged that the injunctive relief they sought is no longer necessary because Cheyenne is now attending school. Thus this claim is moot and the appeal on this issue should be dismissed. The primary question on appeal is whether the district court’s decision should be vacated in order to allow plaintiffs to seek attorney’s fees. As to the damages claim, we agree with the district court that plaintiffs were required to exhaust administrative remedies. Accord*486ingly, plaintiffs were not entitled to attorneys’ fees. 20 U.S.C. § 1415(i)(3)(B).

Appeal DISMISSED as moot as to the claim for injunctive relief; AFFIRMED, in all other respects.

This disposition, is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as may be provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.

Reference

Full Case Name
Cheyenne FINCHAM, a minor Renee Fincham, both individually and as Guardian Ad Litem for Cheyenne Fincham v. PALOS VERDES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Busia, in her individual capacity Susan Kenner, in her individual capacity Robert Bordley, in his individual capacity Rita Wolenik, in her individual capacity South Bay Child Guidance Center Kerry A. Causey, in her individual capacity Wendy Roberts, M.D., in her individual capacity Amy Eisman, in her individual capacity—Board of Education of Palos Verdes Unified School District, and SouthWest Special Education Local Plan Agency—Los Angeles County Department of Education
Status
Published