Torrie by and Through Torrie v. Cwayna

841 F. Supp. 1434, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 572, 1994 WL 18542
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Michigan
DecidedJanuary 20, 1994
Docket1:92-CV-809
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 841 F. Supp. 1434 (Torrie by and Through Torrie v. Cwayna) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Michigan primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Torrie by and Through Torrie v. Cwayna, 841 F. Supp. 1434, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 572, 1994 WL 18542 (W.D. Mich. 1994).

Opinion

OPINION

QUIST, District Judge.

Desmond Torrie, a handicapped student, and his mother, Mrs. Torrie, brought this action against defendants to recover for alleged violations of the Civil Rights Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Rehabilitation Act, false arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, intentional infliction of emotional distress, various federal rights, and state tort law. Plaintiffs allege that defendants failed to provide Desmond with a free, appropriate public education. This matter is before the Court on defendants’ motion to dismiss and/or for summary judgment.

Statement of Facts

Plaintiff Desmond Torrie is a minor child born September 9,1977, who was certified as having a handicapping condition known as an emotional impairment. He was formerly enrolled as a student in the Mona Shores School District and had a high rate of absenteeism and tardiness. Plaintiff Mrs. Torrie is the mother and legal guardian of Desmond. Defendant Fred Bruhn was the Director of Special Education Services for the Mona Shores School District. Defendant *1437 Daniel Cwayna was the principal and. defendant David Mieras was the assistant principal of the Mona Shores Junior High School. Ms. Misze was Desmond’s classroom teacher.

Desmond was classified as handicapped due to an emotional impairment by the Mona Shores School District in October of 1984, when he was seven years old. As a result of his impairment, he received special education services and an Individualized Educational Program (IEP) designed to meet his unique needs. An Individualized Educational Planning Committee (IEPC) comprised of school officials and Desmond’s mother convened periodically to create a written IEP appropriate for Desmond. 1 Some of the IEP reports cited Desmond’s high absenteeism and tardiness. The IEP dated June 7, 1988, stated, “very high absenteeism and tardiness rate affects academic growth.”

School officials apparently believed that Desmond needed a highly structured program and he was placed in a self-contained room for the emotionally impaired for the majority of each day. He was mainstreamed into regular education classes on a limited basis for subjects such as art, music and physical education.

Mrs. Torrie became dissatisfied with Desmond’s placement in a self-contained room. She believed Desmond’s resistance to attending school was based, in part, upon his unhappiness with his placement which made him feel isolated from other nonhandieapped children. Consequently, she requested that a new IEPC meeting take place. Mrs. Tor-rie requested Diana Holmberg, a parent advocate, attend the meeting as an advocate for Desmond. At the meeting held on June 2, 1989, Ms. Holmberg recommended that Desmond be placed in regular education classes with the assistance of aides and special education services. However, school officials supported full time placement in an emotionally impaired program with an hour of mainstreaming each day for reading. As a result of this meeting, Desmond was placed in regular education full time.

Mrs. Torrie contends that Desmond was “exited” from special education and enrolled in regular education without the support of aides or special services in retaliation for her refusal to consent to the self-contained placement. The IEPC Report states, “Desi will be in regular education full time as per mother’s request.” On page four of the report Mrs. Torrie checked the box that said, “I have been fully informed of my rights and request that the educational programs and services described in this IEPC report.be implemented.” Her signature appears directly below a statement notifying her of her right to appeal the Superintendent’s decision within seven days.

Desmond continued to have attendance and tardiness problems. On October 10, 1990, David Mieras, the assistant principal, called Mrs. Torrie and told her that Desmond would receive an automatic detention if he was tardy from school in the future. Mr. Meiras also allegedly informed Mrs. Torrie that this matter could be referred to a court for prosecution under the state truancy laws. On October 15,1990, Desmond was given five days of consecutive detention as a result of his absences from school. Mrs. Torrie contends that she told Mr. Mieras that Desmond was afraid to attend school because of the treatment he received. At some point, Mrs. Torrie admitted that she needed help with Desmond’s attendance and requested help from the social worker intern. However, no action was taken to convene an IEPC. On October 25, October 31, and November 5, 1990, school officials called Mrs. Tome to discuss Desmond’s continued tardiness and the possible sanctions which could result. A meeting was held on November 8, 1990. At the meeting, Mr. Mieras discussed Desmond’s attendance and educational placement with Mrs. Torrie. Mr. Mieras allegedly requested a battery of psychological and emotional testing to assist in arranging a better program for him.

Desmond’s grandmother died on November 20, 1990. Plaintiffs contend that her *1438 death exacerbated Desmond’s emotional impairment and increased his unwillingness to attend school. On December 7, 1990, an intern social worker for the junior high school met with Mrs. Torrie and Desmond and advised them that Desmond had to attend school under the threat of criminal prosecution. On December 17,1990, a Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team Report found Desmond was ineligible for services as an emotionally impaired student. A report submitted by social worker, Steven Overacker, and social worker intern, Vicki Hinshaw stated in part:

As of this date, Desi has been absent 25 full days with 29 tardies. Mr. Mieras and I have spoken with Mrs. Torrie and Desi on numerous occasions regarding the necessity of Desi’s attendance in school. Mrs. Torrie does not feel capable of forcing Desi to attend school and has requested assistance. On the other hand, Desi indicates mom doesn’t wake up in the morning in time to get him to school. His record indicates absences and tardiness have been a problem throughout Desi’s school years. Classroom placement has had little effect on school attendance. During the first grade, when Desi’s attendance was the best, mother indicated her twin brother lived with them and was very close to Desi. Mrs. Torrie reports her brother was killed by his wife within the next couple of years.
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The past record indicates placement in the E.I. self-contained classroom did not improve Desi’s attendance or tardiness. Furthermore, Desi was able to function and pass in the fifth grade regular education classroom with the assistance of an aide. Therefore, it is the recommendation of this writer that Desi continue in the regular education classroom with special education support services. It would appear that a critical factor to Desi’s success is a positive, supportive environment in which his strengths (good language and reading skills artistic talent and enjoying being useful) will be maximized and allow Desi to experience success in the school environment.

On December 17, 1990, David Mieras contacted the Muskegon County Prosecutor and requested assistance in obtaining Desmond’s attendance at school.

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Bluebook (online)
841 F. Supp. 1434, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 572, 1994 WL 18542, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/torrie-by-and-through-torrie-v-cwayna-miwd-1994.