Opinion ID: 3028118
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: W.’s rights under the IDEA and Section 504 of the

Text: Rehabilitation Act (“Section 504”), 29 U.S.C. § 794. Following the completion of all discovery other than expert depositions, defendants moved for summary judgment on numerous grounds, including qualified immunity and a challenge to the use of § 1983 to remedy the alleged violations of the IDEA and Section 504. On April 21, 2005, the District Court struck A.W.’s claim for declaratory relief and denied summary judgment to the defendants on all other bases. The Court found that the IDEA could be enforced through an action under § 1983 based on our decision in W.B. v. Matula, 67 F.3d 484, 494 (3d Cir. 1995), wherein we specifically reasoned that § 1983 was available to redress a violation of a student’s rights secured by the IDEA. The District Court also rejected defendants’ argument that individuals could not be sued under § 1983 for alleged violations of the IDEA and Section 504 because these statutes impose liability only on entities that 2 The procedure leading to the amendment of A.W.’s original complaint was as follows: the NJDOE defendants, including Gantwerk and Zangrillo, filed a motion to dismiss A.W.’s complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, based on sovereign immunity and other grounds. A.W. filed a motion in opposition and also filed a motion to amend his complaint. On March 18, 2002, the District Court issued an order denying the motion to dismiss and granting A.W. leave to file an amended complaint. The defendants appealed this order, which we affirmed, holding that the various defendants had waived sovereign immunity from suit under the IDEA and Section 504 by accepting federal financial assistance. See A.W. v. Jersey City Pub. Schs., 341 F.3d 234 (3d Cir. 2003). 5 receive federal funding. Finally, the Court denied defendants qualified immunity because A.W. adduced sufficient proof that defendants had violated A.W.’s clearly established rights under the IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act. Gantwerk and Zangrillo now appeal.