Court Opinion

ID: 4237879
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-01-19 21:00:29.14345+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:42:58.365955
License: Public Domain

Case: 16-16412    Date Filed: 01/19/2018   Page: 1 of 15

                                                                         [PUBLISH]

                IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                         FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                           ________________________

                                 No. 16-16412
                           ________________________

                        D.C. Docket No. 0:05-cv-60845-KAM

L.M.P.,
on behalf of
E.P., D.P., and K.P.,
minors,

                                                          Plaintiffs-Appellants,

                                       versus

SCHOOL BOARD OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA,
INDIVIDUAL DEFENDANTS, et al.,

                                                          Defendants-Appellees.

                           ________________________

                                 No. 16-16418
                           ________________________

                        D.C. Docket No. 0:10-cv-60032-KAM

C.C. and P.C.,
on behalf of A.C., a minor, and on behalf of all
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other similarly situated disabled children,

                                                                 Plaintiffs-Appellants,

                                           versus

SCHOOL BOARD OF BROWARD COUNTY, et al.,

                                                                 Defendants-Appellees.

                              ________________________

                     Appeals from the United States District Court
                         for the Southern District of Florida
                            ________________________

                                    (January 19, 2018)

Before WILSON and ROSENBAUM, Circuit Judges, and TITUS, * District Judge.

TITUS, District Judge:

       This Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”) case comes

before this Court after a twelve-year battle by two sets of parents on behalf of their

children to receive the specific therapy they believed their children deserved.

Beginning in 2005, Appellant L.M.P., a mother of triplets acting individually and

on her children’s behalf, sought the aid of the courts to force Appellee School

Board of Broward County (“School Board”) to include one-on-one Applied

Behavioral Analysis (“ABA”) therapy in each child’s Individual Education Plan

       *
          Honorable Roger W. Titus, United States District Judge for the District of Maryland,
sitting by designation.
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(“IEP”). Appellants C.C. and C.P., parents acting individually and on their child’s

behalf, intervened in those efforts to try to achieve the same therapy for their child.

Appellants allege that the School Board’s refusal to include the desired therapy in

the children’s IEPs reflects its predetermined policy of never including any ABA-

based method or strategy in a child’s IEP, in violation of the IDEA, 20 U.S.C.

§§ 1400–1482.        But as much as Appellants want to overturn their children’s

original IEPs based on impermissible predetermination, they do not have standing

to challenge the policy that they allege exists. While they argue to the contrary, an

ABA-based therapy was, in fact, included in their children’s IEPs, albeit not the

specific one that they desired, thus defeating their standing to challenge an alleged

policy that was not applied to them.

       The Court will explain how it reached this conclusion through exploration of

what ABA is and how it fits into the IDEA framework.

                               1. Applied Behavioral Analysis 1

       ABA is an applied science whose purpose is to produce socially significant

changes in behavior. D.E. 549 at 2–3. ABA is not a method of instruction or

method of teaching. Id. at 2. Rather, it is a broad umbrella under which numerous

intervention strategies fall. Id. There is no singular technique that must be used in
1
  In its discussion of ABA, the Court adopts the district court’s extensive factual findings on this
issue in its comprehensive and richly-documented Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law,
issued after the bench trial held below. L.M.P. ex rel. E.P. v. Sch. Bd. of Broward Cty., No. 05-
cv-60845-KAM (S.D. Fla. Sept. 7, 2016), ECF No. 549. Citations in this discussion are to “D.E.
549.”
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all circumstances. Id. at 5. There are hundreds of different ABA intervention

strategies that can be provided. Id.

      One strategy is called discrete trial training (“DTT”). Id. DTT is a highly

structured form of implementing the principles of reinforcement and stimulus

control. Id. Although DTT is often done one-on-one, it can also be done in group

settings when appropriate. Id. at 6. Just as DTT is a method under the umbrella of

ABA, there are multiple intervention strategies that have been developed under the

umbrella of DTT. Id. Different methods of DTT include the Lovaas method, the

pivotal response method, and the Picture Exchange Communication System

(“PECS”) method. Id. PECS is a scientifically-validated ABA-based intervention

strategy for teaching communication skills to children with autism. Id.

                   2. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

      The IDEA is a comprehensive statute that sets forth the intent of Congress

that children with disabilities be entitled to a “free appropriate public education”

(“FAPE”). See Winkleman ex rel. Winkleman v. Parma City Sch. Dist., 550 U.S.
516, 523 (2007) (citation omitted). Under Part B of the IDEA, states must provide

disabled children between the ages of three and twenty-one with the opportunity to

receive a FAPE by offering each student special education and related services

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under an IEP. 20 U.S.C. § 1412.2 An IEP must include “a statement of the special

education and related services and supplementary aids and services . . . to be

provided to the child.” Id. § 1414(d)(1)(A)(IV). Determining an IEP “is supposed

to be the culmination of a collaborative process between parents, teachers, and

school administrators outlining the student’s disability and his educational needs,

with the goal of providing the student with a [FAPE].” R.L. v. Miami-Dade Cty.

Sch. Bd., 757 F.3d 1173, 1177 (11th Cir. 2014) (citing 20 U.S.C. §§ 1401(9),

1412(a)(1)(A), 1414(d)(1)(A)–(B), (d)(3)). Once an IEP has been determined, it

“should comply with the procedural and substantive requirements set forth in the

IDEA and should be ‘reasonably calculated to enable the child to receive

educational benefits.’” Id. at 1177 (quoting J.K. ex rel. J.S.K. v. Hendry Cty. Sch.

Bd., 941 F.2d 1563, 1571 (11th Cir. 1991)).

       The IDEA’s framework recognizes that not all stakeholders will agree on all

aspects of an IEP. Id. The statute thus provides for procedural safeguards through

which a child’s parents, if they believe that the IEP does not comply with the

IDEA’s requirements, can challenge the IEP. 20 U.S.C. § 1415; R.L., 757 F.3d at

1177. The parents “may unilaterally withdraw their child from the school system

and pursue alternative placement options.” R.L., 757 F.3d at 1177. Even if the

2
  Citations to the IDEA are to the language that is now in effect. A comparison between the
language in effect today and the language in effect at the time the conduct at issue took place
shows no material change to the provisions relied upon in this case.
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parents do not withdraw their child, they, or the state, “can file a complaint with

the appropriate state administrative agency and get a due process hearing before an

[Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”)] to resolve the dispute.” Id. (citing 20 U.S.C.

§ 1415(f)(1)(A); Fla. Stat. § 1003.57(c)). The complaint may be based on “any

matter relating to the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of the

child, or the provision of a [FAPE] to such child.” 20 U.S.C. § 1415(b)(6). Either

party can then challenge the ALJ’s decision by appealing to either a state court or a

United States District Court.       R.L., 757 F.3d at 1178 (citing 20 U.S.C.

§ 1415(i)(2)(A)).

      A court has broad discretion to grant the relief it deems “appropriate in light

of the IDEA’s purpose.” Id. In reviewing a challenge under the IDEA, the court

will conduct a two-part inquiry: “First, has the State complied with the procedures

set forth in the Act?    And second, is the individualized educational program

developed through the Act’s procedures reasonably calculated to enable the child

to receive educational benefits?” Bd. of Educ. of Hendrick Hudson Cent. Sch. Dist.

v. Rowley, 458 U.S. 176, 206–07 (1982) (footnotes omitted). The state must meet

both the procedural and substantive prongs of the Rowley test for the court to find

the state has complied with the IDEA. See id. at 207. Only procedural violations

that cause a party substantive harm will entitle plaintiffs to relief. See Sch. Bd. of

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Collier Cty. v. K.C., 285 F.3d 977, 982 (11th Cir. 2002); Doe v. Ala. State Dep’t of

Educ., 915 F.2d 651, 660–63 & nn.9–10 (11th Cir. 1990).

       In this case, Appellants have asserted challenges solely under the procedural

prong of Rowley and have explicitly disavowed any challenge under the

substantive prong. Appellants’ Consol. Reply 6. Thus, any question as to the

sufficiency of the IEPs to provide educational benefits to the children of the

Appellants is not before this Court.

                         3. Background and Procedural History 3

       This case involves consolidated appeals. Appellant L.M.P. is the mother of

E.P., D.P., and K.P. (the “Triplets”). Appellants C.C. and P.C. are the parents of

A.C. The parties all appeal from the same district court order issued after a joint

bench trial. The bulk of the factual background pertains to the Triplets as reflected

in the district court’s factual findings.

       The Triplets were born on January 4, 2001 and were diagnosed with autistic

spectrum disorder (“autism”) in 2003. D.E. 549 at 10. A.C. was also diagnosed

with autism at an early age. Id. at 16. Autism is a neurological disorder that

results in deficits in social communication and social interaction. Id. at 2. An

autistic child qualifies as a “child with a disability” under the IDEA. 20 U.S.C.

§ 1401(3)(A).

3
 The Court adopts the background facts as found by the district court in its Findings of Fact and
Conclusions of Law. L.M.P., No. 05-cv-60845-KAM, ECF No. 549.
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       In May 2003, shortly after the Triplets’ diagnosis, their father had the

children examined by David Garcia, the clinical supervisor for Behavioral

Analysis, Inc. (“BAI”). Id. at 10. After the examination, the father hired BAI to

provide each child with thirty hours per week of one-on-one ABA-based therapy.

Id.

       On December 8, 2003, a meeting took place between the School Board and

the Triplets’ parents to discuss the transition of services their children had been

receiving at the early intervention stage.4 Id. at 12. The parents expressed their

desire that the Triplets continue receiving the thirty hours per week of one-on-one

ABA-based therapy provided by BAI. Id. Carol Bianco, one of the School Board

employees present at the meeting, allegedly advised the parents that ABA-based

therapy was not provided by the School Board as an intervention service. Id.

       After the transition meeting, the School Board’s team evaluated the Triplets.

Id.    Following the evaluations, the School Board scheduled a meeting for

December 18, 2003 to develop IEPs for the children. Id. at 12–13. Before the

scheduled meeting, the Triplets’ father requested copies of the School Board’s

evaluations, as a result of which the meeting was postponed until January 5, 2004.

Id. at 13. The Triplets’ father attended the meeting with a court reporter and

4
  Under Part C of the IDEA, states must provide disabled children under three years of age with
an individualized family service plan, setting forth specific early intervention services necessary
for the toddler or infant and their family. 20 U.S.C. §§ 1432–1435.
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Garcia. Id. The father renewed his request for the Triplets to receive thirty hours

per week of one-on-one ABA-based therapy. Id. The meeting ended without a

resolution, and a continuation was scheduled for February 3, 2004. Id. The

parents were notified of the meeting, but did not attend. Id.

      At the February 3, 2004 meeting, the School Board developed initial,

temporary IEPs for the Triplets. Id. at 13–14. The initial IEPs stated under the

“assistive technology” section that each child would receive instruction using the

PECS method. Id. at 14. The School Board sent a letter including the initial IEPs

to the Triplets’ parents. Id. On February 5, 2004, the father notified the School

Board that the parents did not consent to the IEPs. Id. at 14–15. The parents

ultimately did not enroll the Triplets in any of the Broward County public schools

for the 2004–2005 academic year. Id. at 15. The Triplets continued to receive

one-on-one ABA-based therapy from BAI until July 2004 at their parents’

expense. Id.

      On August 17, 2004, the parents requested a due process hearing, which

took place before an ALJ on January 24, 25, 27, and 28, 2005. Id. The parents

requested reimbursement for the ABA-based therapy provided to the Triplets since

they turned three years old that the parents claimed the state was obligated to cover

under the IDEA. Id. On April 25, 2005, the ALJ issued a final order denying any

relief to the Triplets and their parents. Id. at 15–16.

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         The School Board conducted A.C.’s IEP meeting on July 17, 2007. Id. at

16. C.C. and A.C.’s private behavioral specialist attended the meeting. Id. The

IEP developed for A.C., similar to the Triplets’, listed under the “assistive

technology” section “picture/symbol communication system.” Id. The district

court found that this was a reference to the PECS method. Id.

         L.M.P. filed the original Complaint in this case on May 24, 2005. L.M.P. ex

rel. E.P. v. Sch. Bd. of Broward Cty., No. 05-cv-60845-KAM, ECF No. 1. The

final version of the Complaint asserted four counts: (1) a claim asserting multiple

violations of the IDEA, including that the School Board engaged in improper

predetermination regarding the inclusion of ABA therapy in IEPs; (2) a claim

under Section 504(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794(a); (3) a

claim under Florida Statute § 1003.57; and (4) a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

D.E. 549 at 17. In essence, Appellants argued that the School Board subjected

them to a predetermined policy of always denying ABA services. Id.

         On January 22, 2008, C.C. and P.C. filed a Motion to Intervene, alleging

predetermination issues and other claims similar to those asserted by L.M.P.,

which the court granted on March 20, 2008. L.M.P., No. 05-cv-60845-KAM, ECF

Nos. 177, 190. The court, however, later bifurcated the cases on January 8, 2010.5

Id. ECF No. 283.

5
    C.C. and P.C.’s separate case was docketed under Case No. 10-cv-60032-KAM.
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      After the court disposed of the § 1983 claims in both cases on summary

judgment in favor of the School Board, the parties agreed to consolidate the cases

for trial. D.E. 549 at 18–19. The district court held a bench trial on the remaining

claims. Id. On September 7, 2016, the district court entered its Findings of Fact

and Conclusions of Law. Id. The district court found for the School Board on all

counts except for one. Id. at 32. The court found that the School Board had

impermissibly excluded the Triplets’ parents from attending the initial child study

meeting. Id. However, because that procedural violation was harmless, the court

only awarded nominal damages of one dollar. Id. at 32–33. The School Board did

not challenge this finding. The only conclusion Appellants appeal is the district

court’s finding that Appellants lacked standing to challenge an alleged School

Board policy of never including ABA services in IEPs.

                                      4. Standing

      Appellants challenge the district court’s finding that “even if the School

Board has a policy of not including ABA services on an IEP, [Appellants] in this

case lack standing to challenge such a policy because it was not applied to them.”

D.E. 549 at 28. The relevant question, then, for this Court to decide is narrow: did

Appellants suffer harm by the School Board’s alleged policy of never including

ABA services in an IEP, i.e., did they suffer an injury in fact.

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      Article III of the U.S. Constitution limits the judicial power of the federal

courts so that they may only exercise jurisdiction over “Cases” and

“Controversies.” U.S. Const. art. III, § 2; see Lujan v. Defs. of Wildlife, 504 U.S.
555, 559 (1992). Accordingly, subject matter jurisdiction requires a justiciable

case or controversy within the meaning of Article III. See Allen v. Wright, 468
U.S. 737, 750–51 (1984), abrogated on other grounds by Lexmark Int'l, Inc. v.

Static Control Components, Inc., 134 S. Ct. 1377 (2014). Standing constitutes one

component of justiciability. Lujan, 504 U.S. at 560–61. Whether a plaintiff has

standing presents a “threshold question in every federal case, determining the

power of the court to entertain the suit.” Warth v. Seldin, 422 U.S. 490, 498

(1975).

      To establish standing, a plaintiff seeking to invoke this Court’s jurisdiction

bears the burden of demonstrating: (1) an injury in fact; (2) a causal connection

between the injury and the alleged misconduct; and (3) a likelihood that the injury

will be redressed by a favorable decision. Lujan, 504 U.S. at 560–61. In order to

satisfy the first prong, the injury in fact requirement, “a plaintiff must show that he

or she suffered ‘an invasion of a legally protected interest’ that is ‘concrete and

particularized’ and ‘actual or imminent, not conjectural or hypothetical.’” Spokeo,

Inc. v. Robins, 136 S. Ct. 1540, 1548 (2016) (quoting Lujan, 504 U.S. at 560). The

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Court reviews issues of standing de novo. Eng’g Contractors Ass’n of S. Fla. Inc.

v. Metro. Dade Cty., 122 F.3d 895, 903 (11th Cir. 1997).

      All of the children’s IEPs either explicitly listed the PECS method or listed a

clear reference to PECS under the “assistive technology” section. D.E. 549. at 28.

This fact is not contested. The district court also found that the PECS method “is a

scientifically-validated (i.e., effective) ABA-based intervention strategy that is a

form of DTT.” Id. at 28. Appellants do not challenge the district court’s finding

that the PECS method is an ABA-based intervention. Instead, they argue that “the

singular reference to the PECS in the assistive technology portion” of the

children’s IEPs “was never meant by the School Board to be anything more than a

suggestion to the schoolroom teacher.” Appellants’ Consol. Br. 52. “[A]s written,

[they argue that] the parents would be left with no ability to enforce the use of

PECS for any particular length or time, or for any particular purpose in educating

their Children.” Id. Appellants assert that the inclusion of PECS was never

intended to be the adoption of the specific ABA-based program the children had

been receiving, and thus evinces the School Board’s application of its policy of

refusing to include ABA-based services, generally. Id. at 53.

      Despite any possible merit that Appellants’ arguments may have as to the

substantive quality or sufficiency of the inclusion of the PECS method in the

children’s IEPs, they are irrelevant under the procedural prong of Rowley. The

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narrow question here, as stated above, is whether Appellants suffered harm from

an alleged procedural violation. Appellants allege that their injury in fact was the

“denial of their [sic] right of their parents to meaningfully participate in the IEP

process,” caused by the School Board’s alleged predetermined policy of denying

ABA-based services across the board. Appellants’ Consol. Br. 55. Appellants

attempt to show denial of meaningful participation by asserting that the School

Board’s policy is to presumptively deny the inclusion of all ABA-based services in

IEPs. But, as the district court found, each child’s IEP in this case included an

ABA-based intervention strategy. Therefore, the School Board’s inclusion of an

ABA-based service in the children’s IEPs in this case, regardless of how it was

intended to be used or whether it matched the specific services requested by the

parents, refutes Appellants’ argument that they were denied meaningful

participation. Appellants simply were not denied any ABA-based service in their

children’s IEPs.

      The question of whether the included ABA-based intervention strategy was

comprehensive enough or appropriate for the children’s particular needs is a

question that falls under the substantive Rowley prong, i.e., whether the way in

which the PECS method was utilized in the IEP was “reasonably calculated to

enable the child to receive educational benefits.” See Rowley, 458 U.S. at 206–07.

Appellants could have challenged the IEP on substantive grounds or they could

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have accepted the IEP and then challenged the sufficiency of the School Board’s

implementation of the IEP, specifically regarding the implementation of the PECS

program. See N.N.J. ex rel. L.J. v. Sch. Bd. of Broward Cty., 850 F. Supp. 2d 1315,

1319 (11th Cir. 2012). But they chose not to bring any substantive challenges.

          Although Appellants may claim to suffer injury because the School Board

did not adopt the specific ABA services they were requesting, such a claim is not a

cognizable injury in fact under the procedural prong of Rowley because the

children’s IEPs included an ABA-based service. Therefore, Appellants do not

allege any “‘invasion of a legally protected interest’ that is ‘concrete and

particularized’ and ‘actual or imminent, not conjectural or hypothetical’” that

relates to a procedural violation under Rowley. See Spokeo, 136 S. Ct. at 1548. As

such, even if the alleged School Board policy exists, 6 Appellants lack standing to

challenge the policy because it was not applied to them.

          Accordingly, the district court’s decision is AFFIRMED.

6
    This Court makes no finding as to whether such a policy, in fact, existed.
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