Opinion ID: 762759
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Costs and Fees at the Administrative Hearing

Text: 41 A plaintiff may obtain fees and costs when he prevails, or obtains merits-based relief that  'materially alters the legal relationship between the parties by modifying the defendant's behavior in a way that directly benefits the plaintiff.'  D.R. v. East Brunswick Bd. of Educ., 109 F.3d 896, 902 (3d Cir.1997) (quoting Farrar v. Hobby, 506 U.S. 103, 112, 113 S.Ct. 566, 121 L.Ed.2d 494 (1992)). The District Court denied M.E.'s request for costs and fees because its reversal of the ALJ's decision meant that M.E. was no longer a prevailing party. Our decision to vacate the District Court's reversal requires that we vacate and remand the denial of fees and costs. 42