G.C. ex rel. W.S. v. Coler

673 F. Supp. 1093, 1987 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10444
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Florida
DecidedNovember 11, 1987
DocketNo. 87-6220-Civ
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 673 F. Supp. 1093 (G.C. ex rel. W.S. v. Coler) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
G.C. ex rel. W.S. v. Coler, 673 F. Supp. 1093, 1987 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10444 (S.D. Fla. 1987).

Opinion

ORDER

GONZALEZ, District Judge.

THIS CAUSE has come before the court upon the Motion to Dismiss First Amended Class Action Complaint of the defendant School Board of Broward County, Florida.

This is a civil rights action brought on behalf of all children who are or will be confined at the Broward County Regional Juvenile Detention Center (“the detention center”). Plaintiffs complaint has been brought by and in the name of G.C., a minor, by and through his next friend, W.S., on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated. The court has not yet considered the issue of class certification.

The complaint seeks declaratory and in-junctive relief from inadequate and inappropriate conditions of confinement at the detention center. In particular, the complaint seeks relief from overcrowding, inappropriate placement, unsanitary and dangerous physical conditions, lack of security, lack of adequate medical and psychological care, lack of adequate staff, abusive punishment including isolation and lack of appropriate education and programming including lack of special education. The School Board’s Motion to Dismiss is addressed to plaintiffs claims regarding the lack of special education programs for handicapped children as required by § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794 and Public Law No. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1401 et seq. (“EHA”).

1. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973

The School Board moves to dismiss plaintiffs claims under § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act on the ground that the EHA provides all of the remedies, rights, and procedures which Congress intended to apply to a handicapped child’s claim to a free and appropriate public education. The Board argues that under Smith v. Robinson, 468 U.S. 992, 104 S.Ct. 3457, 82 L.Ed. 2d 746 (1984), a plaintiff who asserts a valid claim under the EHA is barred from also proceeding under § 504. This argument must fail in light of a recent congressional amendment to the EHA.

“The Robinson Court held only that a plaintiff who had prevailed under state law and alleged substantial claims under section 504 and the EAHCA could not recover attorney’s fees under the Rehabilitation Act.” Georgia State Conference of Branches of NAACP v. State of Georgia, 775 F.2d 1403, 1425 (11th Cir.1985). The Court expressed fear that where § 504 added nothing to the substantive rights provided by the EHA, plaintiffs might circumvent the state administrative procedures required under the EHA, be awarded damages where none would be available under the EHA, and, if successful, be awarded attorney’s fees. Smith, 468 U.S. 992, 104 S.Ct 3457, 82 L.Ed.2d 746.

The Smith decision prompted the dismissal of claims brought under § 504 when those claims were co-extensive with claims under the EHA. See Georgia Association of Retarded Citizens v. McDaniel, 740 F.2d 902 (11th Cir.1984) cert, denied 469 U.S. 1228, 105 S.Ct. 1228, 84 L.Ed.2d 365 (1985). In response to the courts’ treatment of § 504, Congress overruled Smith by amending the EHA to provide that

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to restrict or limit the rights, procedures, and remedies available under the Constitution, title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 [29 U.S.C.A. § 790, et seq.], or other Federal statutes protecting the rights of handicapped children and youth....

The Education for all Handicapped Children Act, as amended Pub.L. No. 99-372 §§ 2, 3, August 5, 1986, 100 Stat. 796, 797 [20 U.S.C.A. § 1415(f) (West Supp.1987)]. The EHA was also amended to provide for reasonable attorney’s fees to be awarded to prevailing plaintiffs. 20 U.S.C. § 1415(e). Under § 1415(f), the administrative procedures set forth in the EHA are to be “exhausted to the same extent had the action been brought under [the EHA].” Id.

[1095]*1095The amendment was “clearly intended to correct Smith's erroneous construction of the original congressional intent.” Board of Education of East Windsor Regional School v. Diamond, 808 F.2d 987, 994 n. 4 (3d Cir.1986). “The House Committee Report specifically states:

In sum, since 1978, it has been Congress’ intent to permit parents or guardians to pursue the rights of handicapped children through EHA, section 504 and section 1983. Attorneys’ fees could be awarded under section 504 (by virtue of section 505) and under section 1983 (by virtue of section 1988). Further, Congress by establishing a comprehensive scheme of procedural protections under EHA (see above) expected that in appropriate situtations these procedures would be used before a parent or guardian filed a law suit.
Congressional intent was ignored by the U.S. Supreme Court when, on July 5, 1984, it handed down its decision in Smith v. Robinson, 468 U.S. 992,104 S.Ct. 3457, 82 L.Ed.2d 746 (1984).

H.R.Rep. No. 296, 99th Cong., 1st Sess. 4 (1985).” Diamond, 808 F.2d at 994 n. 4.

It is clear then that plaintiff may assert claims under both § 504 and the EHA. Contra Association for Retarded Citizens of Alabama v. Teague, 830 F.2d 158,159 n. 1 (11th Cir.1987) (following Smith v. Robinson, plaintiff may not circumvent EHA remedies by resort to § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act). The Eleventh Circuit gave no indication that it had considered the amendment to § 1416(f) when it decided Teague. This court is bound by the Congress’ intent and must hold that plaintiffs can proceed under both the EHA and § 504. The remaining question is whether plaintiffs claims are barred for failure to exhaust administrative rejnedies.

2. Exhaustion Requirement

The Education of All Handicapped Children Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1401 et seq. sets forth a detailed set of procedural safeguards to be followed by the child's parents or guardian and the local or state educational authorities. See 20 U.S.C. § 1415(a), (b). “A number of courts have characterized the failure of a plaintiff to complete the administrative process as a jurisdictional defect” which bars suit in the district court. Georgia State Conferences, 775 F.2d at 1425 n. 36.

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GC BY AND THROUGH WS v. Coler
673 F. Supp. 1093 (S.D. Florida, 1987)

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673 F. Supp. 1093, 1987 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10444, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gc-ex-rel-ws-v-coler-flsd-1987.