Opinion ID: 3029410
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: This matter comes on before the court on an appeal and cross-appeals from orders the district court entered on June 3, 2005, and July 21, 2005, which became final upon entry of judgment on August 1, 2005, in this case arising in a special education context. See Lauren W. v. DeFlaminis, Civ. No. 031526, 2005 WL 1353643 (E.D. Pa. June 1, 2005); Lauren W. v. DeFlaminis, Civ. No. 03-1526, 2005 WL 2989712 (E.D. Pa. July 20, 2005). The suit arose from long-lived and recurring disputes between the Radnor Township School District and the parents, James and Jean W., of a daughter, Lauren W. (collectively, appellants), entitled to and provided with a special 2 education by the school district.1 In addition to bringing this action against the school district, the appellants joined Dr. John DeFlaminis, the school district superintendent, and Dr. Kitty Lugar, its director of pupil services, as defendants in their individual capacities. When we refer to the “District” we are referring to all three defendants unless the context of the reference is such that it is clear that we are referring only to the school district or the individuals, as the case may be. One of the principal issues in dispute is whether the District is obligated to reimburse appellants for Lauren’s private school tuition that they incurred after Lauren’s parents unilaterally withdrew her from public school, and, if so, whether the District also must provide compensatory education for services it did not provide during Lauren’s private school education. Appellants’ other main contention is that the District denied Lauren special education services in retaliation for their attempts to enforce Lauren’s rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”), 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq., and thus is liable in damages to the appellants for that reason. The District has counterclaimed seeking to recover a portion of the private school tuition that it paid on Lauren’s behalf. Moreover, in its counterclaim the District appeals from an administrative decision requiring it to reimburse appellants for tuition they paid for other years. For the reasons that follow, we will affirm the orders and judgment of the district court.