TENTH CIRCUIT COURT CASES
1. Cain v. Yukon Pub. Schs, 775 F.2d 15 (10th Cir. Okla. 1985) — SCHOOL DISTRICT
2. Hayes v. Unified School Dist. No. 377, 877 F.2d 809 (10th Cir. Kan. 1989) — SCHOOL DISTRICT
3. Johnson v. Independent Sch. Dist. No. 4 of Bixby, 921 F.2d1022 (10th Cir. Okla. 1990) — PARENTS
4. Evans v. Independent Sch. Dist. No. 25., 936 F.2d 472 (10th Cir. Okla. 1991) — SCHOOL DISTRICT
5. Assoc. for Comm. Living in Colo. v. Romer, 992 F.2d 1040 (10th Cir. Colo. 1993) — SCHOOL DISTRICT
6. Murray v. Montrose Cty. Sch. Dist., 51 F.3d 921 (10th Cir. Colo. 1995), cert. denied – SCHOOL DISTRICT
7. Urban v. Jefferson Cty. Sch. Dist., 89 F.3d 720 (10th Cir. Colo. 1996) — SCHOOL DISTRICT
8. Fowler v. Unified Sch. Dist. No. 259, 107 F.3d 797 (10th Cir. Kan. 1997), cert granted (remanded, see No. 9) —
9. Fowler v. Unified Sch. Dist. No. 259, 128 F.3d 1431 (10th Cir. Kan. 1997) — PARENTS (sort of )
10. O’Toole v. Unified Sch. Dist. No.233, 144 F.3d 692 (10th Cir. Kan. 1998) — SCHOOL DISTRICT
11. Logue v. Unified Sch. Dist. No. 512, U.S. App. LEXIS 16280 (10th Cir. Kan. 1998) — SCHOOL DISTRICT
12. Erickson v. Albuquerque Pub. Schs, 199 F. 3d 1116 (10th Cir. N.M. 1999) — SCHOOL DISTRICT
13. Padilla v. School Dist. No. 1 In the City and Cty. of Denver, 233 F.3d 1268 (10th Cir. Colo. 2000) — SCHOOL DISTRICT
14. Joshua W. v. USD 259 Bd. of Educ., 2000 U.S. App. LEXIS 8837 (10th Cir. Kan. 2000), cert denied – SCHOOL DISTRICT
15. T.S. v. Independent Sch. Dist. No. 54, 265 F.3d 1090 (10th Cir. Okla. 2001) — SCHOOL DISTRICT
16. Cudjoe v. Independent Sch. Dist. No. 12, 297 F.3d 1058 (10th Cir. Okla. 2002) — SCHOOL DISTRICT
17. L.C. v. Utah State Bd. of Educ., 62 Fed. Appx. 278 (10th Cir. Utah 2003) — SCHOOL DISTRICT
18. D.L. v. Unified Sch. Dist. No. 497, 392 F.3d 1223 (10th Cir. Kan. 2004), cert denied – SCHOOL DISTRICT
19. L.B. v. Nebo Sch. Dist., 379 F.3d 966 (10th Cir. Utah 2004) — PARENTS (in part)
20. L.C. v. Utah State Bd. of Educ., 125 Fed. Appx. 252 (10th Cir. Utah 2005) — SCHOOL DISTRICT
21. T.W. v. Unified Sch. Dist. No. 259, 136 Fed. Appx,. 122 (10th Cir. Kan. 2005) — SCHOOL DISTRICT
22. Ellenberg v. N. M. Military Inst., 478 F.3d 1262 (10th Cir. N.M. 2007) — SCHOOL DISTRICT
23. McQueen v. Colo. Sprg. Sch. Dist. No. 11, 488 F.3d 868 (10th Cir. Colo. 2007) — SCHOOL DISTRICT
24. Moseley v. Bd. of Educ. of Albuquerque Pub. Schs, 483 F.3d 689 (10th Cir. N.M. 2007) — SCHOOL DISTRICT
25. Garcia v. Bd. of Educ. of Albuquerque Pub. Schs, 520 F.3d 1116 (10th Cir. N.M. 2008) — SCHOOL DISTRICT
26. Couture v. Bd. of Educ. of the Albuquerque Pub. Schs, 535 F.3d 1243 (10th Cir. N.M. 2008) — SCHOOL DISTRICT
27. Sytsema v. Academy Sch. Dist., 538 F.3d 1306 (10th Cir. Colo. 2008) — SCHOOL DISTRICT
28. Thompson R2-J Sch. Dist. v. Luke P., 540 F.3d 1143 (10th Cir. Colo. 2008), cert. denied — SCHOOL DISTRICT
29. Miller v. Bd. of Educ. of Albuquerque Pub. Schs, 565 F.3d 1232 (10th Cir. N.M. 2009) — SCHOOL DISTRICT
30. Ellenberg v. N. M. Military Inst., 572 F.3d 815 (10th Cir. N.M. 2009), cert. denied – SCHOOL DISTRICT
STATISTICS
Total special education decisions: 30
In favor of the School District: 27 (90%)
In favor of parents: 3 (10%)
Decisions that reverse district court (who decided in favor of parents) in order to rule for school district: 8
Decisions that reverse district court (who decided in favor of school district) in order to rule for parents: 2
Decisions that affirm district court decision: 20
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF COLORADO CASES
1. Tyler V. v. St. Vrain Valley Sch. Dist. No. Re-1J, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 34449 (D. Colo. Mar. 21, 2011)
Judge: Philip A. Brimmer
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of School District
On appeal from: St. Vrain Valley RE 1J Sch. Dist., Case No. ED2006-0016
Note: This decision dismissed Parents’ appeal in its entirety. The decision below is from the same appeal, but involved issues concerning the exhaustion of administrative remedies.
1. Tyler V. v. St. Vrain Valley Sch. Dist. No. Re-1J, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 30488 (D. Colo. Mar. 29, 2010)
Judge: Philip A. Brimmer
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of School District
On appeal from: St. Vrain Valley RE 1J Sch. Dist., Case No. ED2006-0016
2. Sytsema v. Acad. Sch. Dist. No. 20, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 105978 (D. Colo. Oct. 30, 2009)
Judge: Richard P. Matsch
Disposition: In favor of Parents on remand
On remand from: 538 F.3d 1306 (10th Cir. 2008)
3. Chase v. Mesa County Valley Sch. Dist. No. 51, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 84671 (D. Colo. Sept. 17, 2009)
Judge: Robert E. Blackburn
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of School District
On appeal from: Mesa County Valley 51 Sch. Dist., Case No. ED2006-0006
4. Thompson R2-J Sch. Dist. v. Luke P., 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 47043 (D. Colo. June 27, 2007)
Judge: Walker D. Miller
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of Parents
Subsequent history: Reversed by 540 F.3d 1143 (10th Cir. Colo. 2008)
On appeal from: Thompson R2-J Sch. Dist., Case No. ED2005-0013
5. Sytsema v. Acad. Sch. Dist. No. 20, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 98192 (D. Colo. June 7, 2006)
Judge: Richard P. Matsch
Disposition: Affirmed in part and reversed in part
Subsequent history: Affirmed in part and reversed in part 538 F.3d 1306 (10th Cir. 2008)
On appeal from: State Level Review decision not found
6. McQueen v. Colo. Springs Sch. Dist. No. 11, 419 F. Supp. 2d 1303 (D. Colo. 2006)
Judge: Lewis T. Babcock
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of School District
Subsequent history: Reversed on exhaustion of administrative remedies 488 F.3d 868 (10th Cir. Colo. 2007)
On appeal from: Colorado Springs 11 Sch. Dist., Case No. ED2003-024
7. O’Hayre v. Board of Educ., 109 F. Supp. 2d 1284 (D. Colo. 2000)
Judge: Lewis T. Babcock
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of School District
On appeal from: Jefferson County R-1 Sch. Dist., Case No. ED99-04
8. Padilla v. School Dist. No. 1, 35 F. Supp. 2d 1260 (D. Colo. 1999)
Judge: Clarence A. Brimmer
Disposition: In favor of Parents
Subsequent history: Reversed by 233 F.3d 1268 (10th Cir. Colo. 2000)
9. Urban by Urban v. Jefferson County Sch. Dist. R-1, 870 F. Supp. 1558 (D. Colo. 1994)
Judge: Daniel B. Sparr
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of School District
Subsequent history: Affirmed by 89 F.3d 720 (10th Cir. Colo. 1996)
STATE LEVEL REVIEW CASES (Administrative Appeals)
2009
Jefferson County Sch. Dist. R-1, Case No. EA2009-0003 (L2009:115)
ALJ: Robert N. Spencer
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of Parents
Parent’s Attorney: Louise Bouzari
School District’s Attorney: Stu Stuller
Cheyenne Mtn. 12 Sch. DIst., Case No. EA2009-0001(L2008:113)
ALJ: Robert N. Spencer
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of School District
Parent’s Attorney: Pro Se
School District’s Attorney: Kelly Dude
Academy 20 Sch. Dist., Case No. EA2009-0002(L2008:111)
ALJ: Matthew E. Norwood
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of School District
Parent’s Attorney: Matthew Werner
School District’s Attorney: Alyssa Burghardt
2008
Boulder Valley RE2 Sch. Dist., Case No. EA2008-0001(L2007:116)
ALJ: Matthew E. Norwood
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of School District
Parent’s Attorney: Karen Wilcynski
School District’s Attorney: Stu Stuller and Kristen Edgar
Thompson R-2J Sch. Dist., Case No. EA2008-0002(L2007:118)
ALJ: Robert N. Spencer
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of School District
Parent’s Attorney: Jack Robinson
School District’s Attorney: Stu Stuller and Alyssa Burghardt
2007
Cherry Creek 5 Sch. Dist., Case No. EA2007-0001(L2006:115)
ALJ: Matthew E. Norwood
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of School District
Parent’s Attorney: Pro Se
School District’s Attorney: Darryl L. Farrington Susanne Starecki Kim
Jefferson County R-1 Sch. Dist., Case No. EA2007-0003(L2007:114)
ALJ: Robert N. Spencer
Disposition: Reversed in favor of School District
Parent’s Attorney: Kate Gerland
School District’s Attorney: Alyssa Burghardt
2006
Mesa County Valley 51 Sch. Dist., Case No. ED2006-0006(L2005:109)
ALJ: Judith F. Schulman
Disposition: Reversed in favor of School District
Parent’s Attorney: Pro Se
School District’s Attorney: David Price
St. Vrain Valley RE 1J Sch. Dist., Case No. ED2006-0016(L2006:112)
ALJ: Matthew E. Norwood
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of School District
Parent’s Attorney: Louise Bouzari
School District’s Attorney: Catherine Tallerico and Adele Reester
2005
Thompson R2-J Sch. Dist., Case No. ED2005-0013(L2005:102)
ALJ: Michelle A. Norcross
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of Parents
Parent’s Attorney: Jack Robinson
School District’s Attorney: Cheryl Karstadt and Stu Stuller
Mountain BOCES, Case No. ED2005-0024(L2005:119)
ALJ: Robert N. Spencer
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of Parents
Parent’s Attorney: William Higgins
School District’s Attorney: Richard Lyons and Adele Reester
2004
Poudre R-1 Sch. Dist., Case No. ED2004-005(L2003:120)
ALJ: Matthew E. Norwood
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of School District
Parent’s Attorney: Pro Se
School District’s Attorney: Kathleen Shannon and Julie Tishkowski
2003
Colorado Springs 11 Sch. Dist., Case No. ED2003-024(L2003:113)
ALJ: Marshall A. Snider
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of School District
Parent’s Attorney: Michael Cook
School District’s Attorney: Brent Rychener and Deborah Menkins
2002
Thompson R-2J Sch. Dist., Case No. ED2002-003(S2001:123)
ALJ: Matthew E. Norwood
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of Parents (in part)
Parent’s Attorney: Jack Robinson
School District’s Attorney: Stu Stuller and Julie Tishkowski
Denver County 1 Sch. Dist., Case No. ED2002-004(S2001:132)
ALJ: Matthew E. Norwood
Disposition: Reversed in favor of School District
Parent’s Attorney: James Rouse
School District’s Attorney: Lorna Candler
Academy 20 Sch. Dist., Case No. ED2002-009(S2002:107)
ALJ: Judith F. Schulman
Disposition: Reversed in favor of School District (in part)
Parent’s Attorney: J. Kevin Bridston and Elizabeth Wylie Johnston
School District’s Attorney: Robert I. Cohn and Brent Benrud
Pikes Peak BOCES, Case No. ED2002-011(S2002:112)
ALJ: Nancy Connick
Disposition: Reversed in favor of School District
Parent’s Attorney: Leo Finkelstein
School District’s Attorney: Robert I. Cohn and Brent Benrud
Jefferson County R-1 Sch. Dist., Case No. ED2002-013(S2002:114)
ALJ: Kathleen T. Muramoto
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of School District
Parent’s Attorney: Pro Se
School District’s Attorney: Julie Tishkowski and Colleen A. O’Laughlin
2001
Division of Youth Corrections, Case No. ED2001-002 (S2000:105)
ALJ: Matthew E. Norwood
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of School District
Parent’s Attorney: Pro Se
School District’s Attorney: Betty Wytias
Mountain BOCES, Case No. ED2001-006(S2000-127)
ALJ: Lisa A. Coughlin
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of School District
Parent’s Attorney: Nancy Hampton
School District’s Attorney: Darryl Farrington
Colorado Springs 11 Sch. Dist., Case No. ED2001-016(S2001:102)
ALJ: Marshall A. Snider
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of School District
Parent’s Attorney: Pro Se
School District’s Attorney: Brent Rychener, Sharon Thomas, and Deborah Menkins
Denver County 1 Sch. Dist., Case No. ED2001-020(S2001:126)
ALJ: Nancy Connick
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of School District
Parent’s Attorney: Brian Murphy
School District’s Attorney: Patrick Mooney and Erica White
2000
St. Vrain Valley RE 1J Sch. Dist., Case No. ED2000-1(S99:120)
ALJ: Bruce C. Friend
Disposition: Reversed in favor of School District
Parent’s Attorney: Robert Johnson
School District’s Attorney: Richard Lyons
Douglas County RE-1 Sch. Dist., Case No. ED2000-8(S2000:103)
ALJ: Sunhee Juhon
Disposition: Reversed in favor of School District
Parent’s Attorney: Pro Se
School District’s Attorney: Thomas Crabb
Denver County 1 Sch. Dist., Case No. ED2000-25(S98:120)
ALJ: Bruce C. Friend
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of Parents
Parent’s Attorney: Margie Best
School District’s Attorney: Michael Jackson
1999
Jefferson County R-1 Sch. Dist., Case No. ED99-04(S99:105)
ALJ: Bruce C. Friend
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of School District
Parent’s Attorney: Pro Se
School District’s Attorney: Pro Se
Cherry Creek 5 Sch. Dist., Case No. ED99-05(S99:117)
ALJ: Sunhee Juhon
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of School District
Parent’s Attorney: Kristen Kutz and William Bethke
School District’s Attorney: Darryl Farrington
1998
Boulder Valley RE-1 Sch. Dist., Case No. ED98-13(S98:121)
ALJ: Nancy Connick
Disposition: Reversed in favor of Parents
Parent’s Attorney: Kristen Kutz and William Bethke
School District’s Attorney: Laura Freppel and Stu Stuller
Douglas County RE-1 Sch. Dist., Case No. ED98-14(S98:119)
ALJ: Judith F. Schulman
Disposition: Affirmed in favor of School District
Parent’s Attorney: Pro Se
School District’s Attorney: Cheryl Karstadt and Thomas Crabb
STATISTICS
Total number of Administrative Appeals: 29
Decisions In favor of School District: 23 (80%)
Decisions in favor of Parents: 6 (20%)
Affirmed in favor of School District: 16 (57%)
Reversed in favor of School District: 7 (25%)
Affirmed in favor of Parents: 5 (17%)
Reversed in favor of Parents: 1 (4%)
Cases where Parents unrepresented by counsel: 11 (40%)
Cases where Parents represented by counsel: 18 (62%)