Opinion ID: 1463326
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Fees for Participating in the Resolution Meeting

Text: The IDEA allows an attorney's fee award for work performed in any action or proceeding. 20 U.S.C. § 1415(i)(3)(B)(i). However, the IDEA specifically excludes resolution meetings from the scope of that definition. Id. § 1415(i)(3)(D)(iii) (A [resolution meeting] shall not be considered . . . a meeting convened as a result of an administrative hearing or judicial action; or . . . an administrative hearing or judicial action.); see also 34 C.F.R. § 300.517(c)(2)(iii). Accordingly, R.R. cannot be awarded attorney's fees for work performed at the resolution meeting, and the district court below abused its discretion in awarding fees for work performed at that meeting. See, e.g., D.D. ex rel. Davis v. District of Columbia, 470 F.Supp.2d 1, 2 (D.D.C.2007) (It is undisputed that attorneys' fees for time actually spent at a resolution session . . . generally are not compensable under the [IDEA].); J.Y. ex rel. Thomas v. Seattle Sch. Dist. No. 1, No. C07-1226, 2007 WL 4111202, at  7 (W.D.Wash. Nov. 16, 2007) (Plaintiff[s] may not be awarded fees associated with participating in resolution sessions.).