Supreme Court To Decide Whether Parents Must Use Attorneys In IDEA
Cases
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
October 27,
2006
PARMA, OHIO--The U.S. Supreme Court said Friday that it would hear
arguments to decide whether parents can act without an attorney to sue a school
if they believe the school has failed to accommodate that child's disability
under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
The case involves Ohio parents Jeff and Sandee Winkelman, who say they
cannot afford an attorney to represent them in their suit against Parma City
School District. They want the district to pay for their son, Jacob, to attend
a specialized private school that caters to students with autism, at an annual
cost of $56,000.
The Supreme Court will not decide whether the school must pay the
tuition. The Justices will focus on the parents' right to sue without an
attorney. While the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Winkelmans
had to hire a lawyer, other federal courts in other states have ruled
differently.
The case, Jacob Winkelman v. Parma City School District, 05-983, will
likely be heard early next year, with a decision by next summer.
Earlier this year, the Cleveland Bar Association came under sharp
criticism when it announced it would fine another Ohio couple, Brian and Susan
Woods, for illegally practicing law when they settled a lawsuit against the
Akron School District over special education services for their son, Daniel,
who has autism.
The lawyer's group made that threat after Parma School attorneys accused
the Woodses of providing legal advice to the Winkelmans. The association later
apologized to the couple and withdrew their threat.
Related:
"Supreme Court to Decide Whether Nonlawyer Parents May
Sue Under IDEA" (Education Week)
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2006/10/27/10scotus_web.h26.html
"Lawyer
Association Accuses Parents Of Illegally Practicing Law" May 2, 2006 (Inclusion
Daily Express)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/archives/06/05/02/050206ohspeced.htm
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