Opinion
Civil No. 09-cv-2621-L(NLS)
06-11-2012
D.H., by and through her Guardian Ad Litem, KEVIN HARRINGTON, Plaintiff, v. POWAY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, Defendant.
ORDER:
(1) GRANTING DEFENDANT'S
MOTION FOR SUMMARY
JUDGMENT [DOC. 35], AND
(2) DENYING PLAINTIFF'S CROSS-
MOTION FOR SUMMARY
JUDGMENT [DOC. 36]
On November 19, 2009, Plaintiff D.H., by and through her Guardian At Litem, Kevin Harrington, commenced this action against Defendant Poway Unified School District ("the District"). D.H. alleges violations of § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"). She also seeks the reversal of an Office of Administrative Hearing ("OAH") decision, which ruled against D.H. after she filed a due-process complaint under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ("IDEA"). Now pending before the Court are the parties' cross-motions for summary judgment.
The Court found these motions suitable for determination on the papers submitted and without oral argument. See Civ. L.R. 7.1(d.1). (Doc. 44.) For the following reasons, the Court GRANTS Defendant's motion (Doc. 35), and DENIES Plaintiff's cross-motion (Doc. 36). I. BACKGROUND
The relevant facts are undisputed. Thus, this section primarily summarizes the factual background presented in the Court's March 14, 2011 Order denying D.H.'s motion for partial summary judgment as well as the OAH's October 28, 2009 Decision.
D.H. is a deaf student eligible for special education who is attending school in the Poway Unified School District. She has moderate-to-profound hearing loss, and a cochlear implant in her right ear and uses a hearing aid in her left ear. The cochlear implant is an electronic device, part of which is surgically implanted, that stimulates the auditory nerve to give D.H. a sense of sound. She uses speech and listening as her primary mode of communication. Though she attends school in a general-education classroom with non-disabled students, D.H. does not hear everything spoken in class. Consequently, she relies on visual strategies, such as lip reading and observation of the actions of peers, as well as educated guesses to fill in for sentences that she does not hear. D.H. is not always aware of when she has not heard something. In addition, she has some difficulty communicating in that she sometimes mumbles, speaks very softly, and has difficulty producing certain sounds. Nevertheless, D.H. has earned excellent grades and is an active participant in class and social life at school.
At the April 20, 2009 Individualized Education Program ("IEP") meeting, the District offered D.H. the following: general education placement with specialized academic instruction / consultation with the resource specialist; deaf / hard of hearing ("DDH") services; audiological services; speech language services; and extended school-year services. The assistive technology devices included, but were not limited to, an FM amplification system for the classroom and school assemblies, a pass-around microphone, and close-captioning access during class videos. The communication strategies, accommodations, and modifications called for in the IEP included, but were not limited to, written directions, access to copies of peers' notes, consistent home / school communication, access to quiet work environments, classroom doors closed to eliminate noise, teachers repeating / rephrasing other students' responses, extra time for some assignments, and preferential seating. In addition to these accommodations, D.H.'s parents requested Computer Assisted Realtime Captioning ("CART"), a real-time transcription service that displays words on a computer screen as they are spoken. The IEP denied the request as unnecessary to provide D.H. with a free appropriate public education ("FAPE").
A quick internet search shows that the acronym "CART" also stands for "Communication Access Real-Time Translation" or "Computer Assisted Realtime Transcription." All of these services appear to be identical.
On May 28, 2009, D.H. filed a due-process-hearing request under the IDEA. The only issue raised was the District's failure to offer CART services. Prior to the hearing, the District offered to give D.H. transcription services similar to CART, although the speech would be summarized rather than transcribed word for word. The service would have been provided on the condition that D.H.'s parents consent to it as a part of the IEP. On September 14, 2009, the District filed its own due-process-hearing request, seeking a declaration that the August 10, 2009 offer of transcription services provided D.H. with a FAPE.
On October 28, 2009, the administrative law judge ("ALJ") found that the April 20, 2009 IEP in its original form provided D.H. with a FAPE and that CART services were not required. Thereafter, D.H. appealed that decision to this Court. In addition to seeking reversal of the ALJ's decision, D.H. also asserts claims for violations of § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and violations of the ADA.
On April 9, 2010, D.H. moved for partial summary judgment as to her third claim, appealing the ALJ's decision. The District opposed. Ultimately, the Court denied D.H.'s motion and affirmed the ALJ's decision, concluding that "the April 20, 2009 IEP complied with the IDEA mandate of a free appropriate public education." (March 14, 2011 Order 10:4-9.)
The parties now cross-move for summary judgment. In their cross-motions, both parties address D.H.'s claim alleging violations of the ADA. D.H. also requests in her motion that the Court "revisit its prior denial of summary judgment under IDEA." (Def.'s Mot. 6:19-20 [Doc. 36].) Both motions are opposed.
Though both motions are opposed, the District did not file a separate opposition to D.H.'s motion but rather requests that the Court take judicial notice of its summary-judgment motion as its opposition to D.H.'s motion. The Court GRANTS the District's request.
II. LEGAL STANDARD
Summary judgment is appropriate under Rule 56(c) where the moving party demonstrates the absence of a genuine issue of material fact and entitlement to judgment as a matter of law. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986). A fact is material when, under the governing substantive law, it could affect the outcome of the case. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986); Freeman v. Arpaio, 125 F.3d 732, 735 (9th Cir. 1997). A dispute about a material fact is genuine if "the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248.
A party seeking summary judgment always bears the initial burden of establishing the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323. The moving party can satisfy this burden in two ways: (1) by presenting evidence that negates an essential element of the nonmoving party's case; or (2) by demonstrating that the nonmoving party failed to make a showing sufficient to establish an element essential to that party's case on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial. Id. at 322-23. "Disputes over irrelevant or unnecessary facts will not preclude a grant of summary judgment." T.W. Elec. Serv., Inc. v. Pac. Elec. Contractors Ass'n, 809 F.2d 626, 630 (9th Cir. 1987).
"The district court may limit its review to the documents submitted for the purpose of summary judgment and those parts of the record specifically referenced therein." Carmen v. San Francisco Unified Sch. Dist., 237 F.3d 1026, 1030 (9th Cir. 2001). Therefore, the court is not obligated "to scour the record in search of a genuine issue of triable fact." Keenan v. Allen, 91 F.3d 1275, 1279 (9th Cir. 1996) (citing Richards v. Combined Ins. Co. of Am., 55 F.3d 247, 251 (7th Cir. 1995)). If the moving party fails to discharge this initial burden, summary judgment must be denied and the court need not consider the nonmoving party's evidence. Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 159-60 (1970).
If the moving party meets this initial burden, the nonmoving party cannot defeat summary judgment merely by demonstrating "that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts." Matsushita Electric Indus. Co., Ltd. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 (1986); Triton Energy Corp. v. Square D Co., 68 F.3d 1216, 1221 (9th Cir. 1995) ("The mere existence of a scintilla of evidence in support of the nonmoving party's position is not sufficient.") (citing Anderson, 477 U.S. at 242, 252). Rather, the nonmoving party must "go beyond the pleadings" and by "the depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file," designate "specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.'" Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324 (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e)).
When making this determination, the court must view all inferences drawn from the underlying facts in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. See Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 587. "Credibility determinations, the weighing of evidence, and the drawing of legitimate inferences from the facts are jury functions, not those of a judge, [when] he [or she] is ruling on a motion for summary judgment." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255. III. DISCUSSION
D.H. indicates that she is no longer pursuing her § 504 claim and monetary damages. As a result, she requests that the Court dismiss without prejudice her § 504 claim. (Pl.'s Mot. 5:8-10 [Doc. 36].) Accordingly, the Court GRANTS D.H.'s request and DISMISSES WITHOUT PREJUDICE her § 504 claim.
A. ADA Claim
"FAPE under the IDEA and FAPE as defined in the § 504 regulations are similar but not identical." Mark H. v. Lemahieu, 513 F.3d 922, 933 (9th Cir. 2008). However, "[the] § 504 regulations distinctly state that adopting a valid IDEA IEP is sufficient but not necessary to satisfy the § 504 FAPE requirements." Id. (citing 34 C.F.R. § 104.22(b)(2)); see also Scanlon by Birkner v. San Francisco Unified Sch. Dist., No. C 91-2559, 1994 WL 860768, at *10 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 14, 1994) ("Because the District complied with the requirements of IDEA, the District also satisfied the education requirements of the Rehabilitation Act."), aff'd mem. 69 F.3d 544, 1995 WL 638275 (9th Cir. 1995). Furthermore, "there is no significant difference in the analysis of rights and obligations created by [the Rehabilitation Act and the ADA]." Vinson v. Thomas, 288 F.3d 1145, 1152 n.7 (9th Cir. 2002); see also Lemahieu, 513 F.3d at 937 (recognizing the similarity for FAPE analysis). Consequently, a plaintiff's failure to show a deprivation of a FAPE under the IDEA dooms a claim under § 504, and, accordingly, under the ADA. See K.M. v. Tustin Unified Sch. Dist., No. SACV 10-1011, 2011 WL 2633673, at *14 (C.D. Cal. July 5, 2011) (citing D.F. v. Western Sch. Corp., 921 F. Supp 559, 574 (S.D. Ind. 1996) ("Other courts entering summary judgment on IDEA claims have summarily dismissed accompanying Rehabilitation Act and ADA claims.").
The District argues that the fact that D.H. cannot show a deprivation of a FAPE under the IDEA dooms her § 504 claim, and accordingly, her ADA claim. (Def.'s Mot. 4:17-5:13 [Doc. 35].) D.H. responds that none of the cases cited by the District establish that being denied a FAPE under the IDEA is a predicate to liability under the ADA, but instead the cases cited show the need to evaluate the elements of the claims under the IDEA and ADA independently. (Pl.'s Opp'n 7:1-19.) D.H. cites Payne v. Peninsula School District, 653 F.3d 863 (9th Cir. 2011), to support her argument. (Id.) The Court agrees with the District.
To begin, D.H.'s reliance on Payne is misplaced. In Payne, the Ninth Circuit addressed en banc the circumstances under which the IDEA's exhaustion requirement bars non-IDEA federal or state law claims. The court held that "the IDEA's exhaustion requirement is a claims processing provision that IDEA defendants may offer as an affirmative defense," and that the "IDEA's exhaustion provision applies only in cases where the relief sought by a plaintiff in the pleadings is available under the IDEA." Payne, 653 F.3d at 867, 871. These holdings have no bearing on the issue currently before the Court. Furthermore, the proposition that D.H. cites in Payne—"[n]othing in the IDEA protects a school from non-IDEA liability simply because it was making a good-faith attempt to educate its disabled students"—is neither here nor there. The District does not argue that the IDEA protects it from non-IDEA liability, and whether the District made a "good-faith attempt to educate" D.H. is also not an issue before the Court. See id. at 877.
Next, the Court rejects D.H.'s characterization of the cases that the District cites, such as Lemahieu, Scanlon, and Western School Corporation. D.H. understands the District's reliance on these cases to mean that a plaintiff "must establish a FAPE violation under IDEA as a necessary element to her ADA claim." (Pl.'s Opp'n 7:4-11.) That is wrong. To the contrary, these cases are clear that the relationship between a FAPE under the IDEA and a FAPE under § 504 (and, by extension, the ADA) is not about necessity, but rather sufficiency. See Lemahieu, 513 F.3d at 933 ("[A]dopting a valid IDEA IEP is sufficient but not necessary to satisfy the § 504 FAPE requirements."). A valid IDEA IEP is sufficient to satisfy the § 504 FAPE requirements, and there is no significant difference between the analysis under § 504 and the ADA. Id.; Vinson, 288 F.3d at 1152 n.7. Therefore, a valid IDEA IEP is also sufficient but not necessary to satisfy the ADA's FAPE requirements. See Lemahieu, 513 F.3d at 933; Vinson, 288 F.3d at 1152 n.7; Scanlon, 1994 WL 860768, at *10.
In concluding that the District's April 20, 2009 IEP complied with the IDEA, the Court previously found the following:
Plaintiff attended a regular public school. She received an FM amplification system for classroom and school assemblies, including a pass-around microphone to capture the input of her peers. She also received access to close captioning for video presentations at school. With these services she earned excellent grades, predominantly As and some Bs. These assistive technologies were offered to her again with the April 20, 2009 IEP. In addition, she was provided with preferential seating away from nosie, access to copies of her peers' or teacher's lecture notes, written directions, an extra set of textbooks as needed, access to a quiet work environment, and extra time for some assignments. Finally, her teachers were provided with information packets and training regarding Plaintiff's hearing loss and the necessary accommodations, including the need to face Plaintiff when giving instruction, pass the microphone around the class during other students' participation, and repeating or rephrasing other students' responses. Plaintiff was also provided with specific deaf and heard of hearing services and speech and audiological services.(March 14, 2011 Order 8:19-9:4 (citations omitted).) D.H. simply has not shown that the District failed to give meaningful consideration to her needs. Thus, it is clear that D.H.'s ADA claim fails on the merits for the same reasons that her IDEA claim failed.
B. D.H.'s Appeal under IDEA
Though the conclusion above also disposes of D.H.'s request to revisit the Court's March 14, 2011 Order with respect to the issue of meaningful consideration, the Court also denies D.H.'s request on additional grounds. In her request to revisit the previous order, D.H. includes the issue of whether the IEP had to "defer to [D.H.'s] preference for CART under Education Code Section 56345(d)(4)." (Pl.'s Mot. 21:9-12.) Foremost, D.H. fails to provide any legal authority that such deference to a student's preference is warranted under the ADA in a public-school setting. Neither the California Education Code § 56345 nor 28 C.F.R. § 35.160 mandate any deference to a student's preferences. In fact, neither statute even contains the words "preference" or "deference." Appendix A to Part 35—not the preamble as D.H. claims—does state that "[d]eference to the request of the individual with a disability is desirable," but that is hardly a mandate. It is merely a preference.
The appendix is also only meant for guidance. Thus, it would have little legal weight here even if its language suggested that deference is required.
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While the petitioning party bears the burden of proof at the administrative level when seeking relief under the IDEA, the party challenging the administrative decision in federal district court has the burden of persuasion on his or her claim. Schaffer v. Weast, 546 U.S. 49, 57 (2005); Clyde K. v. Puyallup Sch. Dist. No. 3, 35 F.3d 1396, 1399 (9th Cir. 1994) (overruled on other grounds). Based on the discussion here and in the Court's March 14, 2011 Order, D.H. simply fails to meet her burden. See id.
IV. CONCLUSION & ORDER
In light of the foregoing, the Court GRANTS Defendant the District's motion for summary judgment (Doc. 35), and DENIES Plaintiff D.H.'s cross-motion for summary judgment (Doc. 36).
IT IS SO ORDERED.
______________
M. James Lorenz
United States District Court Judge
COPY TO:
HON. NITA L. STORMES
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
ALL PARTIES/COUNSEL