K.S. v. HACKENSACK BOARD OF EDUCATION

Filing 24

OPINION. Signed by Judge John Michael Vazquez on 6/21/2017. (ld, )

NOT FOR PUBLICATION
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY

K.S. o/b/o K.S.,

Civ. Action No. 16-2155

Plaintiff,

OPINION

V.

HACKENSACK BOARD OF EDUCATION,
Defendant.

John Michael Vazguez, U.S.D.J.

Pending before the Court is a motion for reconsideration as well as a motion to dismiss.
This matter concerns a challenge to two Administrative Law Judge (“AU”) decisions regarding
the sufficiency of due process given to K.S.M.,1 a student with behavioral and academic
deficiencies.

Plaintiffs initial Complaint was brought pursuant to the Individuals with

Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”), alleging two counts

—

Count One challenging a decision

from AU Candido, and Count Two challenging a decision from AU McGee. Defendant moved
to dismiss both counts. On March 1, 2017, the Court granted Defendant’s motion to dismiss
with respect to both counts, dismissing Plaintiffs appeal of AU Candido’s opinion (Count One)
with prejudice, and allowing Plaintiff to re-plead her appeal of AU McGee’s opinion (Count
Two). D.E. Il (hereinafter the “March 1 Opinion”).

‘K.S. brings this case on behalf of her son, K.S.M., who has authorized her to act on his behalf.
For ease of reference, the Court will refer to K.S. as “Plaintiff”

Plaintiff moves for reconsideration of the Court’s Opinion granting Defendant’s motion
to dismiss her appeal of ALl Candido’s opinion with prejudice. D.E. 13. Defendant opposes
this motion.2

Subsequently, Plaintiff filed an Amended Complaint (“AC”), re-pleading her

appeal of AU McGee’s Opinion pursuant to the IDEA and adding a new Count Two pursuant to
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. D.E. 14. Defendant moves to dismiss Plaintiffs AC,
D.E. 18, and Plaintiff opposes this motion, D.E. 21.

Accordingly, there are two motions

pending before the Court: (1) Plaintiffs motion for reconsideration with respect to this Court’s
March 1 Opinion dismissing Plaintiffs appeal of AU Candido’s opinion with prejudice; and (2)
Defendant’s motion to dismiss Plaintiffs AC.
The motions were decided without oral argument pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 78 and Local Civil Rule 78.1. The Court has considered the parties’ submissions and
denies Plaintiffs motion for reconsideration. Additionally, the Court grants Defendant’s motion
to dismiss. Counts One and Two are dismissed without prejudice.
I.

Plaintiffs Motion for Reconsideration4
A.

Legal Standard

2

Plaintiffs brief in support of her motion for reconsideration will be referred to hereinafter as
“P1. Br.” (D.E. 13); Defendant’s opposition to Plaintiffs motion for reconsideration will be
referred to as “Def. Opp’n” (D.E. 15); and Plaintiffs reply brief in further support of her motion
will be referred to hereinafter as “P1. R.Br.” (D.E. 20).
Defendant’s brief in support of its motion to dismiss will be referred to hereinafter as “Def.
MTD Br.” (D.E. 1$); Plaintiffs opposition to Defendant’s motion to dismiss will be referred to
as “P1. MTD Opp’n” (D.E. 21); and Defendant’s reply brief in further support of its motion will
be referred to hereinafter as “Def MTD R.Br.” (D.E. 23).
The factual background and procedural history are set forth in full in the Court’s March 1
Opinion. D.E. 11.
2

In the District of New Jersey, Local Civil Rule 7.1(i) governs motions for
reconsideration. Andreyko v. Sunrise Sr. Living, 993 F. Supp. 2d 475, 477 (D.N.J. 2014). The
rule provides that such motions must be made within 14 days of the entry of an order. L. Civ. R.
7.1(i).

Substantively, a motion for reconsideration is viable when one of three scenarios is

present: (1) an intervening change in the controlling law, (2) the availability of new evidence not
previously available, or (3) the need to correct a clear error of law or prevent manifest injustice.
Carmichael v. Everson, No. 03-4787, 2004 WL 1587894, at *1 (D.N.J. May 21, 2004) (citations

omitted).

The burden is on the movant to demonstrate that one of these three scenarios is

present. Id.
A motion for reconsideration is inappropriate when a party merely disagrees with a
court’s ruling or when a party simply wishes to re-argue or re-hash its original motion. Sch.
Specialty, Inc. v. ferrentino, No. 14-4507, 2015 WL 4602995, *2..3 (D.N.J. July 30, 2015); see
also florham Park Chevron, Inc. v. Chevron US.A., 680 F. Supp. 159, 162 (D.N.J. 1988). Thus,

motions for reconsideration are considered “extremely limited procedural vehicles,” and a
remedy that is granted “very sparingly.” Andreyko, 993 F. Supp. 2d at 477.
B.

Analysis

Here, Plaintiff filed her motion for reconsideration 28 days after entry of the Court’s
March 1 Opinion. D.E. 13. The Court therefore denies Plaintiffs motion as untimely pursuant
to Local Rule 7.1. See Jones v. Sanko Steamship Co., Ltd, No. 10-6787, 2016 WL 819618, at *4
(D.N.J. Mar. 2, 2016) (“The moving parties’ failure to file their motions within the fourteen-day
period prescribed by the Local Rule provides a basis, on its own, to deny their motions.”).
Plaintiff admits that she “erroneously” brought this motion pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 59(e), which permits a request to amend or alter a judgment within twenty-eight days.

3

P1. R.Br. at 4.

Rule 59(e) “pertains to a judgment rendered by trial,” and therefore is not

applicable to Plaintiffs motion. Alrnahdi v. Boztrque, No. 07-4617, 2008 WL 2447142, at *1 n.l
(D.N.J. June 13, 200$); see also Byrne v. Calastro, No. 05-68, 2006 WL 2506722, at *1 (D.N.J.
Aug. 2$, 2006) (“Local Rule 7.1 [] of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure, rather than Rule 59 of
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, governs motions for reconsideration filed in the District of
New Jersey.”).
Moreover, the Court denies Plaintiffs motion on the merits. Plaintiff basis her motion on
the availability of new evidence not previously available. Plaintiff argues that she “acquired new
evidence [which] renders the March 1, 2017 ruling inaccurate.” P1. Br. at 4. Plaintiff identifies
this “new evidence” as “decisions made by Magistrate Judge F alk.” Id. at 5.

Specifically,

Plaintiff states she “found evidence that suggests that Magistrate Judge Falk, in mid 2015, would
not let White & Case5 move to reopen the complaint

.

.

.

because he wanted to wait until Judge

McGee rendered his decision in a second due process action initiated by Plaintiff.” Id. at 5.
Plaintiff concludes that it would be “manifestly unjust” to not allow her to appeal the decision of
AU Candido. Id. at 6.
Plaintiff provides no explanation as to why this evidence could not have been discovered
and submitted in connection with the prior motion to dismiss. See Marracco v. Kuder, No. 08713, 2009 WL 235469, at *1 (D.N.J. Jan. 30, 2009) (“A party seeking to introduce new evidence
on reconsideration bears the burden of first demonstrating that evidence was unavailable or
unknown at the time of the original [decision].”); Tischio v. Bontex, Inc., 16 F. Supp. 2d 511, 533
(D.N.J.

1998) (refusing to consider alleged “new evidence” attached to motion for

reconsideration when “there [was] nothing to establish, much less suggest, such new evidence

White & Case was Plaintiffs attorney when she initially appealed AU Candido’s opinion.
4

was newly discovered which through the exercise of due diligence could neither have been
discovered nor submitted in connection with the [prior motion].”).
Moreover, the Court does not find Plaintiffs substantive argument persuasive. Plaintiff
was at all times able to pursue her rights in her appeal of AU Candido’s Opinion. See Civil
Case No. 13-cv-00609. Once that case was dismissed, she had the right to move to re-open it
within 60 days, and if denied, to appeal Judge Falk’s decision to the District Court. Instead,
Plaintiff chose to wait nearly three years after that case was dismissed before her current attorney
filed a letter on the docket stating that “no settlement materialized” between the parties, and
requesting that the court reopen the matter. See Id., D.E. 41. Plaintiff failed to act in a timely
fashion and cannot re-litigate the dismissed case. Therefore, as stated in the Court’s March 1
Opinion, Plaintiffs appeal of AU Candido’s Opinion remains dismissed with prejudice.
For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiffs motion for reconsideration is denied.
II.

Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss the Amended Complaint
A. Factual6 & Procedural History

After this Court’s March 1 Opinion dismissing Plaintiffs Complaint, Plaintiff filed the
AC. D.E. 14. The AC brings two counts: (1) based on 20 U.S.C. Section 1419 of the IDEA; and
(2) based on Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act.
As in her first Complaint, Plaintiffs AC recounts K.S.M.’s difficulties in schooling, from
2008 through K.S.M.’s graduation.

AC

¶J

7-14.

Plaintiff reiterates her objections to the

accommodations, school placement, and IEPs offered by Hackensack in regards to K.S.M.’s

6

When reviewing a motion to dismiss, the Court accepts as true all well-pleaded facts in the
complaint. Fowler v. UPMC Shadyside, 578 F.3d 203, 210 (3d Cir. 2009). The Court can also
consider “the factual allegations contained in other documents, such as documents referred to in
the complaint and matters of public record if the claims in the complaint are based upon those
documents.” In re Milestone Sd. Sec. Litig., 103 F. Supp. 2d 425, 450 (D.N.J. 2000).
5

education. Id.

¶J 15-20. Plaintiff also recounts the litigation she engaged in with Hackensack

over this period, first, her due process action in 2012 in front of AU Candido, and second, her
request for emergent relief and a subsequent due process action in front of AU McGee. Id.

¶

21-22, 49-53. Similar to her first Complaint, Plaintiff’s AC seeks to overturn the decision of
AU

McGee, specifically the following findings: (1) the in-district program offered by

[Hackensack] constituted a FAPE; (2) the IEP proposed by Hackensack conferred a meaningful
educational benefit upon K.S.M; and (3) Hackensack’s program constituted the least restrictive
environment appropriate for K.S.M.’s need. Id.

¶ 62.

Additionally, for the first time, Plaintiff alleges a Section 504 violation of the
Rehabilitation Act, arguing that Hackensack denied K.S.M. “the opportunity to participate in,
and benefit from general education services including academic and non-academic services and
school activities.” Id.

¶ 64(a). In support of these allegations, Plaintiff describes a fire that

occurred in her home on September 11, 2013. Id.

¶ 39. As a result of this fire, Plaintiff alleges

that she and K.S.M. were displaced and that Hackensack “neglected to provide transportation
services to [K.S.M.]” at their temporary residence. Id.

¶ 40. Once K.S.M. was enrolled in a new

school following their displacement, Plaintiff alleges that Hackensack refused to provide lunch
for K.$.M, and “threatened to terminate K.$.M.’s enrollment” because of the displacement. Id.

¶J 56, 57.
B. Legal Standard

i. Rule 12(b)(1)
A defendant may move to dismiss a claim for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under
Rule 12(b)(1). Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1). “A district court has to first determine, however, whether
a Rule 12(b)(1) motion presents a ‘facial’ attack or a ‘factual’ attack on the claim at issue,

6

because that distinction determines how the pleading must be reviewed.” Constitution Party of
Pa. v. Aichele, 757 F.3d 347, 357 (3d Cir. 2014). A facial attack “concerns an alleged pleading
deficiency whereas a factual attack concerns the actual failure of a plaintiffs claims to comport
factually with the jurisdictional prerequisites.” CNA v. United States, 535 F.3d 132, 139 (3d Cir.
200$) (internal quotation marks omitted).
For a factual attack, “the allegations of the complaint have no presumptive truthfulness
and the court must weigh the evidence presented by the parties.” 3d. of Trs. of Trucking Emps of
N. Jersey Welfare Fund, Inc. v. Caliber Auto Transfer, Inc., No. 09-6447, 2010 WL 2521091, at

*8 (D.N.J. June 11, 2010) (citing McC’ann v. Newman Irrevocable Trust, 45$ F.3d 281, 290-91
(3d Cir. 2006)).

“An attack on subject matter jurisdiction that is based on a lack of

administrative exhaustion is a factual challenge and not a facial one.” 1ff ex rd. 1ff. v. Egg
Harbor Twp. 3d. of Edttc., No. 08-488, 2009 WL 1322514, at *2 (D.N.J. May 11, 2009). Thus,
when reviewing such a factual attack, the court may consider evidence outside the pleadings. Id.
at *3• Regardless of whether the attack is facial or factual, “the Plaintiff has the burden to prove
that the Court has jurisdiction.” 3d. of Trs. of Trucking Emps of N Jersey Welfare Fund, Inc.,

2010 WL 2521091, at *$ (citing Petruska v. Gannon Univ., 462 F.3d 294, 302 (3d Cir. 2006)).
ii. Rule 12(b)(6)
Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure permits a defendant to move to
dismiss a count for “failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted[.j” To withstand a
motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6), a plaintiff must allege “enough facts to state a claim to
relief that is plattsible on its face.”

Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)

(emphasis added). A complaint is plausible on its face when there is enough factual content
“that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the

7

misconduct alleged.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). Although the plausibility
standard ‘does not impose a probability requirement, it does require a pleading to show more
than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawftilly.” Connelly v. Lane Const. Corp.,

809 F.3d 780, 786 (3d Cir. 2016) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). As a result, a
plaintiff must “allege sufficient facts to raise a reasonable expectation that discovery will
uncover proof of [his] claims.” Id. at 789. The plausibility pleading requirement applies to
complaints in IDEA matters. Kalliope R. ex rel. Irene D. v. N.Y State Dept. of Educ., 827 F.

Supp. 2d 130, 135, 140 (E.D.N.Y. 2010).
In evaluating the sufficiency of a complaint, a district court must accept all factual
allegations in the complaint as true and draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the plaintiff.
Phillips v. Ctv. of Allegheny, 515 F.3d 224, 231 (3d Cir. 2008).

A court, however, is “not

compelled to accept unwarranted inferences, unsupported conclusions or legal conclusions
disguised as factual allegations.” Baraka v. Syneevey, 481 F.3d 187, 211 (3d Cir. 2007). If, after
viewing the allegations in the complaint most favorable to the plaintiff, it appears that no relief
could be granted under any set of facts consistent with the allegations, a court may dismiss the
complaint for failure to state a claim. Defazio v. Leading Edge Recoveiy So/s., No. 10-2945,
2010 WL 5146765, at *1 (D.N.J. Dec. 13, 2010).
C. Analysis

i. 12(b)(1)
Defendant argues that equitable tolling does not apply to the IDEA, and therefore a
violation of the statute of limitations under the IDEA is a jurisdictional bar. Def. MTD Br. at 89. Further, Defendant argues that even if equitable tolling applies to IDEA cases, Plaintiff has
not alleged facts demonstrating she is entitled to such tolling.

8

Id. at 9-10.

In regards to

Plaintiffs Section 504 claim, Defendant contends that Plaintiff failed to exhaust her
administrative remedies and therefore this Court lacks jurisdiction to hear that claim. Id. at 1112.
Plaintiff responds by arguing that case law does not support Defendant’s contention that
the 90-day statute of limitations in the IDEA is a jurisdictional bar. P1. MTD Opp’n at 7-10.
Plaintiff reiterates some of her prior arguments in regards to equitable tolling: that White & Case
(her prior counsel) did not inform her that her case was closed, that she believed that the case
remained open, and that Defendant was not prejudiced by the late filing. Id. at 11. further,
Plaintiff argues that there is no requirement under the Rehabilitation Act to exhaust
administrative remedies and “[a] party may file a Section 504 action as long as the party exhausts
his or her IDEA administrative remedies prior to initiating an action in federal court.” Id. at 12.
As noted in this Court’s March 1 Opinion, “[t]he United States Supreme Court and Third
Circuit have not ruled on whether equitable tolling applies to the 90-day statute of limitations
provision in the IDEA.” D.E. 11, at 7. The Court will again assume, for the purposes of this
Opinion, that equitable tolling applies.8 Equitable tolling requires the party seeking it to show
“(1) that [s]he has been pursuing [her] rights diligently, and (2) that some extraordinary
circumstance stood in [her] way.”

Pace v. DiGuglielmo, 544 U.S. 40$, 41$ (2005).

The

Defendant also argues that Plaintiff has not exhausted her administrative remedies with respect
to the McKinney Vento Act, failure to provide lunch to K.S.M., and threats to terminate
K.S.M.’s school placement. Id. at 11. Plaintiff responds by stating that “Plaintiff has not alleged
any claims under the McKinney Vento Act but rather has only used reference to that statute to
illustrated the scope of Defendant’s failure to provide special education services (FAPE) to
K.S.M.” P1. MTD Opp’n at 12. Thus, the Court will only address Defendant’s exhaustion
argument in respect to the Section 504 Claim.
8

As noted previously, this presumption is solely for the purpose of this Opinion, and not for this
case, and does not preclude the parties from raising this issue in the future.
9

Supreme Court warns that the relief of equitable tolling should be granted “only sparingly” and
not in cases involving “garden variety clairn[s] of excusable neglect.” Irwin v. Dep ‘t of Veterans
Affairs, 49$ U.S. $9, 96 (1990). The first prong of the test, diligent pursuit, requires “reasonable
diligence,” which is determined by a subjective test considered “in light of the particular
circumstances of the case.” Ross v. Varano, 712 F.3d 7$4, 799 (3d Cir. 2013). “Extraordinary
circumstances typically exist where some factor beyond the petitioner’s control, such as
ineffective assistance of counsel, has prevented her from timely filing.” Rios v. Attorney Gen. of
US., 615 F. App’x 752, 755 (3d Cir. 2015).

Plaintiff concedes that she failed to file the current action within the statute of limitations,
but argues that it is subject to equitable tolling.
addressing equitable tolling in her AC.

Plaintiff provides no factual allegations

In her brief, Plaintiffs allegations are limited to a

reference to her “Certification.”9 Plaintiff alleges in her certification, “AU McGee’s inability to
reach and issue a final decision for one year was an extraordinary circumstance which caused me
much pain, stress and anxiety.” D.E. 22

¶ 7.

She also states that she was unaware that the Prior

Action was closed, and therefore sought to reopen that action rather than file a complaint. Id.
9.

¶

Lastly, Plaintiff states: “I recall counsel from White & Case informing [Plaintiff] that

Magistrate Judge Falk informed them that he would not re-open [the Prior Action].” Id.
These arguments do not suffice to demonstrate that Plaintiffs late filing should be
equitably tolled.

Notably, the Court stated in its March 1 Opinion that, despite Plaintiff

providing no affidavit, the factual allegations in Plaintiffs brief were nonetheless “insufficient to
satisfy either element of equitable tolling.” See Civil Case No. l3-cv-00609, D.E. 11, at 9.

Defendant correctly points out that Plaintiff failed to submit the certification in conjunction
with her opposition, but instead submitted it four days later. Nevertheless, the Court will
consider the certification in deciding this motion.
10

Specifically, this Court stated that AU McGee’s late decision “is irrelevant to the current issue

—

Plaintiff filing her civil action within 90 days after AU McGee rendered his decision.” Id.
Thus, AU McGee’s purported delay cannot serve the basis for an “extraordinary circumstance”
standing in the way of Plaintiff appealing that very decision afier it was rendered. Plaintiff also
claims ignorance of the status of her case, placing the blame on her former counsel, White &
Case, and even partly on Magistrate Judge Falk. Plaintiffs arguments are, at best, “gardenvariety claims of excusable neglect” that do not warrant the application of equitable tolling. See
Irwin, 498 U.S. at 96.

The Court will therefore dismiss Count I of Plaintiffs AC without prejudice. The Court
notes that since this is Plaintiffs second attempt to argue that the statute of limitations was
equitably tolled, if she chooses to file a second amended complaint and again fails to sufficiently
set forth facts that support equitable tolling, this count will be dismissed with prejudice.
As to Plaintiffs 504 claim, the parties dispute whether exhaustion is required under that
statute, and if so, whether Plaintiff properly exhausted the administrative process. See Def. MTD
Br. at 10-13; P1. MTD Opp’n at 11-13; Def. MTD R.Br. at 7-8.
The IDEA requires a plaintiff to exhaust the IDEA’s administrative process. 20 U.S.C.

§

1415(I). Additionally, to prevent circumvention of this exhaustion requirement, the IDEA also
requires exhaustion “in non-IDEA actions where the plaintiff seeks relief that can be obtained
under the IDEA.” MS. v. Marple Newtown Sch. Dist., 635 F. App’x 69, 71 (3d Cir. 2015)
(citing 20 U.S.C.

§ 1415(I)). This includes a claim brought pursuant to Section 504

Of

the

Rehabilitation Act if it “relates to the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of the
child, or the provision of a free appropriate public education to such child.” Id.; see also
Batchelor v. Rose Tree Media Sch. Dist., 759 F.3d 266, 272 (3d Cir. 2014) (holding that the

11

IDEA “bars plaintiffs from circumventing the IDEA’s exhaustion requirement by taking claims
that could have been brought under IDEA and repackaging them as claims under some other
statute e.g., section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

.

. .“).

Failing to exhaust such claims divests

the court of its subject matter jurisdiction. MS., 635 F. App’x at 72. Nonetheless, separate
claims alleging only violations of Section 504 are not subject to the administrative exhaustion
requirement. See H.A. v. Camden City 3d. of Edttc., No. 10-0733, 2011 WL 3236204, at *3
(D.N.J. July 28, 2011).

“Thus, determining if the IDEA’s administrative process must be

exhausted before bringing claims in federal court turns on whether the parties could have
asserted the claims under the IDEA.” Batchetor, 759 F.3d at 273.
Here, Plaintiffs Section 504 claim is premised on the same factual allegations as her
IDEA claim

—

that Defendant failed to provide K.S.M. with appropriate educational services.

See Fiy v. Napoleon Cmty. Sch,, 137 S. Ct. 743, 755 (2017) (holding that when the gravamen of

a plaintiffs complaint is “in essence contesting the adequacy of a special education program”
and “seeks redress for a school’s failure to provide a FAPE,” it is subject to the IDEA’s
exhaustion requirement, even when pled under an alternate statute); Batchelor, 759 F.3d at 274
(finding that appellants’ retaliation claims “palpably relate” to the district’s provision of a FAPE
and therefore are subject to the IDEA’ s exhaustion requirement); 1Q. v. Washington Twp. Sch.
Dist., 92 F. Supp. 3d 241, 251 (D.N.J. 2015) (finding that plaintiffs Section 504 claims relate to

his IDEA claims because they were both premised on the appropriateness of the educational
services provided to a disabled student). Therefore, Plaintiffs Section 504 claim is subject to the
IDEA’s exhaustion requirement.
Defendant argues that Plaintiff failed to exhaust her administrative remedies with respect
to her Section 504 claim. Plaintiff responds that her due process petition “reserve[d] the right to

12

seek damages under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act,” sufficiently placing Defendant on
notice of this claim. P1. MTD Opp’n Ex. 1, at 5. Neither party provides any case law as to the
requirements necessary for a party to exhaust a Rehabilitation Act claim when she has already
exhausted a substantially similar IDEA claim.
The Third Circuit has held the IDEA’s exhaustion requirement to be jurisdictional, see
Batchelor, 759 F.3d at 276, and therefore the plaintiff has the burden of demonstrating
administrative exhaustion. 3d. of Trs. of Trucking Emps of N. Jersey Welfare Fund, Inc., 2010

WL 2521091, at *8. Plaintiff, however, does not address the exhaustion requirement in the AC.
Plaintiffs only proof of exhaustion is the due process opinion she attaches as an exhibit, which
states that she “reserved her rights” to bring a Section 504 claim. Neither party provides any
evidence of whether a reservation of rights is sufficient to exhaust a Section 504 claim. The
Court has found scant and somewhat contradictory case law on the issue. See, e.g., Mr. I v.
Maine Sch. Admin. Dist. 55, 416 F. Supp. 2d 147, 174 (D. Me. 2006) (concluding that exhausting
an IDEA claim also exhausts a Section 504 claim and that “the parents were not required to
argue the

§ 504 claim to the Hearing Officer”), aff’d sub nom. Mr. I. ex rel. L.I. v. Maine Sch.

Admin. Dist. No. 55, 480 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 2007); Hesling v. Avon Grove Sch. Dist., 428 F. Supp.

2d 262, 274 (E.D. Pa. 2006) (finding that plaintiff had exhausted her administrative remedies for
claims revolving around her children’s substantive educational rights under the IDEA, but her
“retaliation claims were never raised at [the] IDEA due process hearings” and therefore were not
exhausted), aff’d sub nom. Hesling v. Seidenberger, 286 F. App’x 773 (3d Cir. 200$). Because

the parties have not adequately addressed the issue, because the Court’s own research did not
reveal binding precedent, and because the Court is dismissing the second count pursuant to Rule
12(b)(6), the Court does not reach the exhaustion argument as to that count. However, neither

13

party is precluded from raising or addressing the issue should Plaintiff file another amended

complaint.
Therefore, the first count is dismissed without prejudice. Nonetheless, since Plaintiff has
the opportunity to re-plead, the Court will address the 12(b)(6) motion as to Count I for the
benefit of the parties. The Court will also review the 12(b)(6) motion as to Count II.
ii. 12(bX6)
With respect to its 12(b)(6) motion, Defendant argues that Plaintiff “again fail[s] to
include any allegations relating to the petition for due process, the hearing on same conducted by
AU McGee, his decision or how she believes AU McGee erred as a matter of fact and/or law.”
Def. MTD Br. at 6. Plaintiff responds by reiterating facts from her AC that depict the alleged
inadequacies in K.S.M.’s education. P1. MTD Opp’n at 15.

She also states that she is not

required to directly refer to AU McGee’s decision, and contends that the facts she has laid out
were before AU McGee and therefore her IDEA count is plausibly pled. Id. at 15.
In this Court’s March 1 Opinion, it set forth the standard for pleading an IDEA cause of
action. The March 1 Opinion alerted Plaintiff to the deficiencies in her pleading

—

namely her

failure to “cite to any specific portion of ALl McGee’s opinion much less denote the alleged
errors in the opinion.” D.E. 11, at 13. Because of this, the Court was “lefi to guess as to why
Plaintiff contests AU McGee’s decision.” Id.
Plaintiffs AC does not cite to AU McGee’s opinion.

In fact, the entire AC only

mentions AU McGee three times. The first is to state that “Plaintiff seeks to have this Court
overturn the administrative final order of an Administrative Law Judge, Leland McGee.” AC
1.

¶

The second describes how Plaintiff “filed for emergent relief and was granted a hybrid

program by AU McGee,” and that AUJ McGee called an in-person conference to amend his

14

original relief order. Id.

¶ 49,

52. In Plaintiffs IDEA Count, she asks this Court to find AU

McGee incorrect in his findings. Id.

¶ 62. Thus, nowhere does Plaintiff describe how AU

McGee’s decision was incorrect. The AC therefore fails to put Defendant on notice of Plaintiffs
disputes with AU McGee’s opinion. Therefore, even assuming that Plaintiffs claims were
equitably tolled, Count One nonetheless fails to plausibly state a claim.
Count II similarly fails under a 12(b)(6) analysis. Pursuant to Section

504,10

a plaintiff

must plead that “(1) he or she is ‘disabled’ under the act, (2) he or she is ‘otherwise qualified’ to
participate in school activities, (3) the defendant receives federal financial assistance, and (4) he
or she ‘was excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subject to discrimination at,
the school.” N.J Prot. & Advocacy, Inc. v. N.J Dep ‘t of Educ., 563 F. Supp. 2d 474, 491
(D.N.J. 2008) (quoting Andrew li v. Del. Cty. Office of Mental Health & Mental Retardation,

490 F.3d 337, 350 (3d Cir. 2007)). The remedies available in a Section 504 claim include
“compensatory damages, injunctive relief, and other forms of relief traditionally available in
suits for breach of contract.” A. W v. Jersey City Pub. Sch., 486 F.3d 791, 804 (3d Cir. 2007).
10

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act states:
No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United
States shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded
from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected
to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal
financial assistance....
...

29 U.S.C.

§ 794(a). The anti-retaliation regulation implementing Section 504 states:
No recipient or other person shall intimidate, threaten, coerce, or
discriminate against any individual for the purposes of interfering
with any right or privilege secured by [the Act], or because he has
made a complaint, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner
in an investigation, proceeding or hearing....

34 C.F.R.

§ 100.7(e).
15

When “a plaintiff seeks compensatory damages on a Section 504

[] claim, the plaintiff must also

prove that the discrimination or denial of benefits at issue was intentional, or at least that the
defendant exhibited deliberate indifference to the underlying discrimination.” WK. v. Pittston
Area Sch. Dist., No. 16-0352, 2017 WL 1316208, at *4 (M.D. Pa. Apr. 10, 2017) (citing Shadie
v. Hazieton Area Sc/i. Dist., 580 F. App’x 67,70 (3d Cir. 2014)).

Plaintiff alleges the following in connection with her Section 504 claim: (1) Defendant
denied K.S.M. the opportunity to participate in and benefit from general education services; (2)
Defendant failed to adopt and modify classroom activities to meet the individual needs of
K.S.M.; (3) Defendant failed to provide K.S.M. with an equal opportunity to participate in and
benefit from Defendant’s services; and (4) Defendant attempted to place K.S.M. at an

¶ 64(a)-(d). Plaintiff seeks compensatory damages,

inappropriate educational facility. Compl.

among other remedies, for this alleged violation. Id.
Defendant argues that these allegations fail to “support [Plaintiffs] claims that [K.S.M.]
was subject to discrimination and/or retaliation under Section 504.”

Def. MTD Br. at 15.

Specifically, Defendant contends that Plaintiff fails to plead that the denial of benefits or
discrimination “was the result of intentional action or deliberate indifference on the part of
[Hackensack],” as required when pleading compensatory damages under Section 504. Id. at 16.
Additionally, Defendant argues that Plaintiff fails to include specific allegations relating to
retaliation and/or discrimination toward K.S.M. by Hackensack. Id. Plaintiffs only response is
that “Plaintiff has more than established

.

.

.

that Defendant retaliated or discriminated against

[K.S.M.].” P1. MTD Opp’n at 16.
The Court finds that Plaintiff fails to plausibly plead a violation of Section 504. First,
Plaintiff seeks compensatory damages but does not plead any “intentional discrimination” or

16

deliberate indifference by Hackensack.

See Shadie, 580 F. App’x at 70 (“The ‘intentional

discrimination’ standard demands proof that, at a minimum, the school district exhibited
‘deliberate indifference’ to the underlying act of discrimination.”). Second, Plaintiff does not
include any plausible allegations regarding the specific retaliation or discrimination K.S.M. was
subject to. Plaintiffs allegations are entirely conclusory, presuming the fact of discrimination
rather than providing plausible facts in support. Therefore, the AC does not adequately plead a
cause of action under Section 504 and Count Two is dismissed without prejudice.
CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiffs motion for reconsideration is denied. Defendant’s
motion to dismiss is granted, and Counts One and Two are dismissed without prejudice. Plaintiff
has thirty (30) days to file an amended complaint, if she so chooses, and in accordance with this
Opinion and Local Civil Rule 15.1.11 An appropriate Order accompanies this Opinion.

Dated: June 21, 2017

John’Michael Vazquez7J? .iJ.

Effective May 10, 2017, Local Civil Rule 15.1 states, in part, that:
A party who files an amended pleading in response to an Order
authorizing the filing of that pleading to cure a defect in its
pleading shall file:
(1) a copy of the amended pleading, complete with a handwritten
or electronic signature; and
(2) a form of the amended pleading that shall indicate in what
respect(s) it differs from the pleading that it amends, by
bracketing or striking through materials to be deleted and
underlining materials to be added.
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