Opinion ID: 3012899
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: W. asserted two causes of action under the IDEA

Text: against the NJDOE as well as Gantwerk, Osowski, and Zangrillo named in their official capacities. He alleged that they failed to ensure the identification and remediation of his dyslexia. The State Defendants also allegedly lacked sufficient knowledge and expertise with this condition, did not require the Jersey City Public Schools to employ appropriately trained staff, and failed to adopt the standards and procedures to evaluate the effectiveness of the district’s programs. This conduct allegedly resulted in the deprivation of a free appropriate public education. He also claimed that the NJDOE’s denial of a free appropriate public education violated section 504. Gantwerk and Zangrillo, named in their individual capacities, were allegedly liable pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for infringing his rights under the IDEA and section 504 by conducting an allegedly ineffective complaint investigation. A.W. finally asserted claims pursuant to the New Jersey Constitution and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. Following a reference of this matter to mediation, the District Court issued a written opinion on May 1, 2002. The District Court considered inter alia the State Defendants’ 6 claim of Eleventh Amendment immunity. It declined to resolve the question of whether Congress properly exercised its power of abrogation under Section 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment. The District Court, however, found that New Jersey waived its immunity as to A.W.’s section 504 and IDEA claims by accepting federal funds when Congress clearly conditioned the receipt of any such assistance on the state’s abandonment of immunity. The State Defendants appealed. The United States subsequently intervened in this appeal, arguing for affirmance.