Lambda Legal, local law firm
urge court to uphold Poway
decision
Poway Unified School District
appeals decision regarding former
Poway High students
by Anthony Baldman, Reporter
Published Thursday, 07-Dec-2006
Lambda Legal and law firm
Rosenstein Wilson & Dean filed a
brief Nov. 21 urging an appeals
court to uphold a jury decision that
found former Poway High School
students were subjected to
relentless harassment due to their
sexual orientation and that Poway
Unified School District failed to take
measures to stop the harassment in
an immediate and appropriate way.
Former students Joseph Ramelli and
Megan Donovan were awarded
$300,000 by a San Diego Superior
Court on June 8, 2005.
Following the jury’s decision, PUSD
filed a motion for a new trial but was
denied on Sept. 2, 2005. The school
district then filed for a notice of
appeal on Sept. 21, 2005.
Jeffrey Morris, one of the
attorneys with Stutz Artiano Shinoff &
Holtz representing PUSD, told the
Gay & Lesbian Times the reason
they’re appealing the case is
because the court gave an
instruction that “essentially held the
district to guarantee a harassment-
free environment.” The instruction,
along with “other incorrect
instructions,” allowed the jury to find
the district responsible for this
alleged harassment, Morris said.
But Brian Chase, staff attorney for
Lambda Legal, said all schools in
California are required to take
effective measures to achieve a
harassment-free environment.
“Even after their mothers
complained about their kids being
harassed because they are gay and
lesbian, the school district did little to
nothing to protect Joey or Megan,
which is why the jury in the trial court
ruled against the Poway Unified
School District,” he said.
Chase said he expects the case will
reach the appeals court in the next
four to five months.
“First, [PUSD is] arguing that the
jury was wrong in determining
that the administrators had been
deliberately indifferent to the
harassment of Megan and Joey,”
Chase said. “But of course that’s
a question for the jury, not for
the appellate court. They
shouldn’t get the chance to retry
it. They went to trial and they
lost.”
When the California Legislature
passed laws protecting gay and
lesbian students from harassment,
PUSD argues the Legislature didn’t
intend to give students in California
more protection than those provided
under federal law, Chase said.
“So basically they’re arguing that the
California Legislature went to all the
trouble to pass these laws in order
to do absolutely nothing that the
federal government wasn’t already
doing,” he said. “We’re arguing that,
no, the California Legislature
specifically said that schools have
an affirmative duty to protect kids
from harassment, and that’s what
they meant. They meant to give
more protection for the kids than
they would get under federal law.”
Ramelli and Donovan attended
Poway High from 2000 to 2003. Both
students spent their senior year
studying in a home-schooling
program called New Directions due
to their negative experiences on
campus. Donovan and Ramelli
graduated the program in 2004.
Bridget Wilson, an attorney
representing the students, said they
remain hopeful, though anything can
happen during the appeal.
“We believe very strongly in this
case. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t have
taken it to trial,” she said.
In April 2005, Ramelli testified in a
San Diego Superior Court that he
had been harassed and teased
about his sexual orientation since he
was a freshman. Students
repeatedly called him names, threw
food and spit on him, vandalized his
car and shoved him in the hallways,
he said.
“I kept a log of the times when I was
called ‘fag’ and other derogatory
words, and when I was physically
assaulted or my life was threatened,”
Ramelli said. “Hardly a day went by
that I didn’t get shoved or called a
name, so there was no way that
anyone could question that what was
happening to me was a serious,
constant problem. I don’t want future
gay and lesbian students at Poway
to suffer from the same harassment I
went through.”
Wilson said many of the abusive
incidences were reported to school
administrators, but they were
unresponsive. Donovan and Ramelli
were in fact blamed for [the
incidences], and Ramelli was
accused of overreacting to the
abuse, she said.
The students’ lawsuit also claimed
Poway administrators had
encouraged both students to leave
the school to participate in the New
Directions program, depriving them
of a typical high school experience.
Wilson said a panel of three
appellate justices will be assigned to
review the case.
urge court to uphold Poway
decision
Poway Unified School District
appeals decision regarding former
Poway High students
by Anthony Baldman, Reporter
Published Thursday, 07-Dec-2006
Lambda Legal and law firm
Rosenstein Wilson & Dean filed a
brief Nov. 21 urging an appeals
court to uphold a jury decision that
found former Poway High School
students were subjected to
relentless harassment due to their
sexual orientation and that Poway
Unified School District failed to take
measures to stop the harassment in
an immediate and appropriate way.
Former students Joseph Ramelli and
Megan Donovan were awarded
$300,000 by a San Diego Superior
Court on June 8, 2005.
Following the jury’s decision, PUSD
filed a motion for a new trial but was
denied on Sept. 2, 2005. The school
district then filed for a notice of
appeal on Sept. 21, 2005.
Jeffrey Morris, one of the
attorneys with Stutz Artiano Shinoff &
Holtz representing PUSD, told the
Gay & Lesbian Times the reason
they’re appealing the case is
because the court gave an
instruction that “essentially held the
district to guarantee a harassment-
free environment.” The instruction,
along with “other incorrect
instructions,” allowed the jury to find
the district responsible for this
alleged harassment, Morris said.
But Brian Chase, staff attorney for
Lambda Legal, said all schools in
California are required to take
effective measures to achieve a
harassment-free environment.
“Even after their mothers
complained about their kids being
harassed because they are gay and
lesbian, the school district did little to
nothing to protect Joey or Megan,
which is why the jury in the trial court
ruled against the Poway Unified
School District,” he said.
Chase said he expects the case will
reach the appeals court in the next
four to five months.
“First, [PUSD is] arguing that the
jury was wrong in determining
that the administrators had been
deliberately indifferent to the
harassment of Megan and Joey,”
Chase said. “But of course that’s
a question for the jury, not for
the appellate court. They
shouldn’t get the chance to retry
it. They went to trial and they
lost.”
When the California Legislature
passed laws protecting gay and
lesbian students from harassment,
PUSD argues the Legislature didn’t
intend to give students in California
more protection than those provided
under federal law, Chase said.
“So basically they’re arguing that the
California Legislature went to all the
trouble to pass these laws in order
to do absolutely nothing that the
federal government wasn’t already
doing,” he said. “We’re arguing that,
no, the California Legislature
specifically said that schools have
an affirmative duty to protect kids
from harassment, and that’s what
they meant. They meant to give
more protection for the kids than
they would get under federal law.”
Ramelli and Donovan attended
Poway High from 2000 to 2003. Both
students spent their senior year
studying in a home-schooling
program called New Directions due
to their negative experiences on
campus. Donovan and Ramelli
graduated the program in 2004.
Bridget Wilson, an attorney
representing the students, said they
remain hopeful, though anything can
happen during the appeal.
“We believe very strongly in this
case. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t have
taken it to trial,” she said.
In April 2005, Ramelli testified in a
San Diego Superior Court that he
had been harassed and teased
about his sexual orientation since he
was a freshman. Students
repeatedly called him names, threw
food and spit on him, vandalized his
car and shoved him in the hallways,
he said.
“I kept a log of the times when I was
called ‘fag’ and other derogatory
words, and when I was physically
assaulted or my life was threatened,”
Ramelli said. “Hardly a day went by
that I didn’t get shoved or called a
name, so there was no way that
anyone could question that what was
happening to me was a serious,
constant problem. I don’t want future
gay and lesbian students at Poway
to suffer from the same harassment I
went through.”
Wilson said many of the abusive
incidences were reported to school
administrators, but they were
unresponsive. Donovan and Ramelli
were in fact blamed for [the
incidences], and Ramelli was
accused of overreacting to the
abuse, she said.
The students’ lawsuit also claimed
Poway administrators had
encouraged both students to leave
the school to participate in the New
Directions program, depriving them
of a typical high school experience.
Wilson said a panel of three
appellate justices will be assigned to
review the case.
Donovan et al. v. Poway
Unified School District et
al.
Case Number D047199 Party
Attorney
CSBA goes after people
like Megan Donovan and
Joseph Ramelli
Donovan, Megan :
Plaintiff-respondent-x/appellant
F. Brian Chase
Lambda Legal Fund
3325 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1300
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Hayley Gorenberg
Lambda Legal Defense & Education
Fund, Inc.
120 Wall Street, Suite 1500
New York, NY 10005
Paula S. Rosenstein
Rosenstein, Wilson & Dean
1901 First Avenue, Ste. 300
San Diego, CA 92101
Ramelli, Joseph :
Plaintiff-respondent-x/appellant
F. Brian Chase
Lambda Legal Fund
3325 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1300
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Hayley Gorenberg
Lambda Legal Defense & Education
Fund, Inc.
120 Wall Street, Suite 1500
New York, NY 10005
Paula S. Rosenstein
Rosenstein, Wilson & Dean
1901 First Avenue, Ste. 300
San Diego, CA 92101
Poway Unified School District :
Defendant-appellant-x/respondent
Jeffrey A. Morris
Stutz, Artiano, Shinoff & Holtz
2488 Historic Decatur Rd., #200
San Diego, CA 92106
George Edson Murphy
Murphy, Campbell, Guthrie & Alliston
8801 Folsom Blvd., Ste. 230
Sacramento, CA 95826
Fisher, Scott :
Defendant-appellant-x/respondent
Jeffrey A. Morris
Stutz, Artiano, Shinoff & Holtz
2488 Historic Decatur Rd., #200
San Diego, CA 92106
George Edson Murphy
Murphy, Campbell, Guthrie & Alliston
8801 Folsom Blvd., Ste. 230
Sacramento, CA 95826
Giles, Ed :
Defendant-appellant-x/respondent
Jeffrey A. Morris
Stutz, Artiano, Shinoff & Holtz
2488 Historic Decatur Rd., #200
San Diego, CA 92106
George Edson Murphy
Murphy, Campbell, Guthrie & Alliston
8801 Folsom Blvd., Ste. 230
Sacramento, CA 95826
ACLU Foundation of San Diego &
Imperial Counties : Other
P.O. Box 87131
San Diego, CA 92138
John David Blair-Loy
ACLU of San Diego & Imperial
Counties
P.O. Box 87131
San Diego, CA 92138
ACLU Foundation of Northern
California : Other
39 Drumm Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
Alex M Cleghorn
39 Drumm Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
ACLU Foundation of Southern
California : Other
1616 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Natalie Nardecchia
ACLU Foundation of Southern
California
1616 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Education Legal Alliance of the
CA School Boards Assoc. : Other
Kellie Marie Murphy
Johnson Schachter & Lewis
2180 Harvard St Ste 560
Sacramento, CA 95815-3326
Lehoa Nguyen
2180 Harvard St #560
Sacramento, CA 95815-3326
Unified School District et
al.
Case Number D047199 Party
Attorney
CSBA goes after people
like Megan Donovan and
Joseph Ramelli
Donovan, Megan :
Plaintiff-respondent-x/appellant
F. Brian Chase
Lambda Legal Fund
3325 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1300
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Hayley Gorenberg
Lambda Legal Defense & Education
Fund, Inc.
120 Wall Street, Suite 1500
New York, NY 10005
Paula S. Rosenstein
Rosenstein, Wilson & Dean
1901 First Avenue, Ste. 300
San Diego, CA 92101
Ramelli, Joseph :
Plaintiff-respondent-x/appellant
F. Brian Chase
Lambda Legal Fund
3325 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1300
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Hayley Gorenberg
Lambda Legal Defense & Education
Fund, Inc.
120 Wall Street, Suite 1500
New York, NY 10005
Paula S. Rosenstein
Rosenstein, Wilson & Dean
1901 First Avenue, Ste. 300
San Diego, CA 92101
Poway Unified School District :
Defendant-appellant-x/respondent
Jeffrey A. Morris
Stutz, Artiano, Shinoff & Holtz
2488 Historic Decatur Rd., #200
San Diego, CA 92106
George Edson Murphy
Murphy, Campbell, Guthrie & Alliston
8801 Folsom Blvd., Ste. 230
Sacramento, CA 95826
Fisher, Scott :
Defendant-appellant-x/respondent
Jeffrey A. Morris
Stutz, Artiano, Shinoff & Holtz
2488 Historic Decatur Rd., #200
San Diego, CA 92106
George Edson Murphy
Murphy, Campbell, Guthrie & Alliston
8801 Folsom Blvd., Ste. 230
Sacramento, CA 95826
Giles, Ed :
Defendant-appellant-x/respondent
Jeffrey A. Morris
Stutz, Artiano, Shinoff & Holtz
2488 Historic Decatur Rd., #200
San Diego, CA 92106
George Edson Murphy
Murphy, Campbell, Guthrie & Alliston
8801 Folsom Blvd., Ste. 230
Sacramento, CA 95826
ACLU Foundation of San Diego &
Imperial Counties : Other
P.O. Box 87131
San Diego, CA 92138
John David Blair-Loy
ACLU of San Diego & Imperial
Counties
P.O. Box 87131
San Diego, CA 92138
ACLU Foundation of Northern
California : Other
39 Drumm Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
Alex M Cleghorn
39 Drumm Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
ACLU Foundation of Southern
California : Other
1616 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Natalie Nardecchia
ACLU Foundation of Southern
California
1616 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Education Legal Alliance of the
CA School Boards Assoc. : Other
Kellie Marie Murphy
Johnson Schachter & Lewis
2180 Harvard St Ste 560
Sacramento, CA 95815-3326
Lehoa Nguyen
2180 Harvard St #560
Sacramento, CA 95815-3326
| Education Legal Alliance of the CA School Boards Assoc. Kellie Marie Murphy Johnson Schachter & Lewis 2180 Harvard St Ste 560 Sacramento, CA 95815-3326 Lehoa Nguyen 2180 Harvard St #560 Sacramento, CA 95815-3326 |
National School Boards Association (NSBA)
| Home Why This Website SDCOE CVESD Castle Park Elem Law Enforcement CTA CVE Stutz Artiano Shinoff Silence is Golden Schools and Violence Office Admin Hearings Larkins OAH Hearing |
What kind of legal
principles do these
lawyers support?
principles do these
lawyers support?
California School Boards Association (CSBA)
3100 Beacon Blvd./P.O. Box 1660
West Sacramento, CA 95691-1660
(800) 266-3382
scody@csba.org
3100 Beacon Blvd./P.O. Box 1660
West Sacramento, CA 95691-1660
(800) 266-3382
scody@csba.org
2008 CCSA Directory
Attorneys listed by firm
Antelope Valley Union HSD
Bridget
Cook.............................................12
Atkinson, Andelson, Loya,
Ruud & Romo
Lisa R.
Allred...............................................7
Patrick J.
Balucan........................................8
Gerald A.
Conradi....................................12
Eve Peek
Fichtner......................................16
Terry
Filliman...........................................16
Todd A.
Goluba.........................................18
Patrick A.
Gunn........................................19
Elizabeth B.
Hearey..................................20
Janice J.
Hein.............................................20
Jennifer E.
Henry......................................20
Scott K.
Holbrook.....................................21
Salvador O. Holguin,
Jr............................21
Paul M.
Loya.............................................25
Peter J.
Lucey.............................................25
Donna M.
Matties....................................26
Chesley D.
Quaide....................................32
Marleen L.
Sacks.......................................34
Clifford D.
Weiler.....................................40
Mark S.
Williams......................................40
James Scot
Yarnell.....................................41
Bergman & Dacey, Inc.
Gregory M.
Bergman..................................9
Best Best & Krieger, LL P
Jack B.
Clarke............................................11
Paula de
Sousa...........................................13
Martin
Fine...............................................16
Dina O.
Harris..........................................20
Steven E.
Lake...........................................24
William
Merrill.........................................27
Ricardo J.
Soto..........................................37
Katherine
Starn.........................................37
Van T.
Vu..................................................39
Airionna
Whitaker....................................40
Brisbane ESD
Stephen J.
Waterman................................39
California Department of Education
Marsha A.
Bedwell......................................8
California School Law Publishers
Lee
Port......................................................31
Carlsen Thomas, LL P
Susan
Carlsen............................................11
Vida
Thomas.............................................38
Cotati-Rohnert Park USD
Barbara J.
Vrankovich...............................39
California School
Boards Association
John
Bukey................................................10
Judy
Cias....................................................11
Martin
Gonzalez.......................................18
Richard
Hamilton.....................................19
Bode
Owoyele...........................................30
de Goede, Dunne & Martin
A Professional Corporation
Mary Beth de
Goede.................................13
Ed/Law
Loren A.
Carjulia......................................11
Erickson, Beasley & Hewitt LL P
Brenda Aguilar-
Guerrero............................7
Fagen Friedman &
Fulfrost, LL P
Dean Adams................................................7
Sophie C. Agopian......................................7
Vivian Anaya...............................................7
Shawn Olson Brown.................................10
Deborah R.G. Cesario..............................11
Roy A. Combs...........................................12
Summer Dalessandro................................13
Rachel Disario...........................................14
Peter K. Fagen...........................................15
Christopher J. Fernandes..........................16
James B. Fernow........................................16
Douglas Freifeld........................................17
Howard A. Friedman................................17
Howard J. Fulfrost....................................17
Angela Gordon..........................................18
Melissa Hatch............................................20
Vivian Haun..............................................20
Emilia C. Huntley.....................................22
Laurie S. Juengert......................................22
Christopher D. Keeler...............................23
Elise Kirsten...............................................23
Joel B. Mason............................................26
Diana K. McDonough.............................26
Kathy McKee............................................27
Kelly R. [Angell] Minnehan.......28
Elizabeth B. Mori......................................28
Sarah Orman.............................................30
Susan Park.................................................30
Wesley Parsons..........................................31
Melanie A. Petersen...................................31
Jonathan P. Read.......................................32
Lauri E. Reynolds......................................33
Lee Rideout...............................................33
Jennifer R. Rowe.......................................33
Tiffany Santos...........................................34
William F. Schuetz....................................35
Gretchen M. Shipley.................................35
Ricardo R. Silva.........................................35
Lenore Silverman......................................36
Kimberly Smith.........................................36
Joshua Stevens...........................................37
Emily E. Sugrue........................................37
Kerrie Taylor..............................................38
Jan E. Tomsky...........................................38
Luis Carlos Villegas...................................39
Filarsky & Watt, LL P
Eileen Nucho.............................................30
Sharon A. Watt..........................................40
Geoff Winterowd......................................40
Fresno COE
Linda Bacon................................................8
Dwaine L. Chambers................................11
Kidd P. Crawford......................................12
Girard, Vinson & Trujillo LL P
Heather Edwards.......................................15
Griswold, LaSalle, Cobb, Dowd
& Gin, LL P
Randy L. Edwards.....................................15
Gutierrez & Vera, LL P
Lynn Murphy............................................29
Ronald T. Vera..........................................39
Hopkins & Carley,
A Law Corporation
Richard M. Noack....................................29
Geraldine Jaffe
...................................................................22
Kay and Stevens
William E. Kay.........................................22
Janae H. Novotny.....................................30
Sandra Smith.............................................36
Janet Cory Sommer...................................36
M. Carol Stevens.......................................37
Kingsley Bogard Thompson
Kim Kingsley Bogard.................................9
Paul Gant...................................................17
Robert E. Kingsley....................................23
Kronick, Moskovitz,
Tiedemann & Girard
Michelle L. Cannon..................................10
P. Addison Covert.....................................12
Diane Marshall Freeman..........................17
Marcy L. Gutierrez....................................19
Christian M. Keiner..................................23
Emily E. LaMoe........................................24
Jennifer A. Postel.......................................31
Anne M. Sherlock.....................................35
Lake COE
John A. Drummond.................................14
Law Offices of David S. Bristol
David S. Bristol...........................................9
Law Offices of Michael J. Keebler
Michael J. Keebler.....................................22
Law Offices of Virginia A. Riegel
Virginia A. Riegel......................................33
Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Bruce
Barsook.............................................8
Michael
Blacher...........................................9
Debra
Bray...................................................9
Peter J.
Brown............................................10
Mary L.
Dowell.........................................14
Donna
Evans.............................................15
Adrianna
Guzman....................................19
Arlin
Kachalia...........................................22
Marla
Letellier...........................................25
Andrew
Lu.................................................25
Jesse
Maddox.............................................26
Carla
McCormack....................................26
Art
Meneses...............................................
27
Pilar
Morin................................................29
Melanie
Poturica.......................................31
Desiree Reed-
Francois...............................33
Cepideh
Roufougar...................................33
Laura J.
Schulkind....................................35
Brian
Walter..............................................39
Donna
Williamson...................................40
Alex
Wong.................................................41
Maiya
Yang................................................41
Littler Mendelson
Adam J.
Fiss...............................................16
Los Angeles COE
Shari Kim
Gale..........................................17
Sung Yon
Lee.............................................24
Monique C.
Shay......................................35
Los Angeles USD
Maribel S.
Medina....................................27
Lozano Smith
Scott G.
Cross...........................................13
Harold M.
Freiman...................................17
Dulcinea A.
Grantham.............................18
Louis T.
Lozano........................................25
Daniel
Maruccia........................................26
Ruth E.
Mendyk.......................................27
Stephen A.
Mendyk...................................27
David
Moreno...........................................28
Karen M.
Rezendes...................................33
Roberta L.
Rowe.......................................33
Peter A.
Sansom........................................34
Trevin E.
Sims...........................................36
Michael E.
Smith......................................36
Manhattan Beach USD
Nancy
Hersman........................................21
Meyers, Nave, Riback,
Silver & Wilson
Richard Pio
Roda......................................31
Miller Brown & Dannis
Candace
Bandoian......................................8
Nectaria
Belantis.........................................8
Marilyn J.
Cleveland.................................12
Sarah
Daniel..............................................13
Dora
Dome...............................................14
Andra M.
Donovan..................................14
Sue Ann Salmon
Evans.............................15
Christopher M.
Fallon..............................15
Debra
Ferdman.........................................15
Chad J.
Graff.............................................18
David G.
Miller.........................................28
Damara L.
Moore.....................................28
Janet L.
Mueller.........................................29
Jonathan A.
Pearl......................................31
Elizabeth Rho-
Ng.....................................33
Samuel R.
Santana....................................34
Lawrence M.
Schoenke.............................35
Sarah L.W.
Sutherland..............................37
Deborah L.
Ungar.....................................38
Enrique M.
Vassallo..................................39
Sandra
Woliver..........................................41
Joung H.
Yim............................................41
Napa Valley USD
Sally Jensen
Dutcher.................................14
Nordman, Cormany, Hair &
Compton, LL P
Nancy
Miller.............................................28
North Coast Schools Legal
Consortium
Steve L.
Hartsell........................................20
Orange COE
Claire Y.
Morey.........................................28
Lysa M.
Saltzman......................................34
Ronald D.
Wenkart..................................40
Parham & Rajcic
Pamela A.
Dempsey..................................13
William A.
Diedrich.................................13
Jackson E.
Parham....................................30
John M.
Rajcic...........................................32
Parker & Covert LL P
Spencer E.
Covert......................................12
Nancy Finch-
Heuerman...........................16
Barbara J.
Ginsberg...................................18
Douglas N.
Yeoman..................................41
Parks, Dingwall & Associates
Linda R.
Parks...........................................30
Patterson, Ritner,
Lockwood & Jurich
Deanna M.
Brown....................................10
Rodney
Ritner...........................................33
Peralta Community College
District
Thuy Thi
Nguyen......................................29
Placer County Office of Education
Keith J.
Bray................................................9
Procopio Cory
Hargreaves & Savitch
Celia A.
Brewer...........................................9
Gregory V.
Moser......................................29
Rutan & Tucker, LL P
Jennifer
Brown..........................................10
S. Daniel
Harbottle...................................19
Ski
Harrison..............................................
20
David C.
Larsen........................................24
Denise L.
Mester.......................................27
Epiphany
Owen........................................30
Lyndsy B.
Rutherford...............................34
Karen Van
Dijk.........................................39
Sacramento COE
Karen
Steentofte........................................37
San Diego USD
Theodore A.
Buckley.................................10
Sandra Jones Anderson
....................................................................
.7
San Francisco County &
USD
Victoria
Li..................................................25
Miguel A.
Marquez...................................26
Angela
Miller.............................................28
William M.
Quinn...................................32
San Juan USD
Linda C.T.
Simlick....................................36
San Mateo County Counsel
Aimee B.
Armsby........................................7
John C.
Beiers..............................................8
Timothy J.
Fox..........................................17
Michael
Murphy.......................................29
John D.
Nibbelin.......................................29
Eugene
Whitlock......................................40
Santa Clara County Counsel
Lori E.
Pegg...............................................31
Santa Rosa City Schools
George R.
Valenzuela................................38
School & College Legal
Services
of California
Carl
Corbin...............................................12
Adam S.
Ferber..........................................15
Marko H.
Fong.........................................16
Clare
Gibson..............................................18
Robert J.
Henry.........................................21
Joseph C.
Kinkade....................................23
Nancy L.
Klein..........................................23
Janna L.
Lambert......................................24
Margaret M.
Merchat...............................27
Susanne K.
Reed.......................................32
Noel J.
Shumway.......................................35
Patrick D.
Sisneros....................................36
Ralph D.
Stern..........................................37
Schools Legal Service
Christopher
Burger...................................10
Peter C.
Carton.........................................11
Patricia T.
Castle.......................................11
Carol
Grogan............................................19
Alan B.
Harris...........................................19
Grant H.
Herndon....................................21
Christopher
Hine......................................21
William A.
Hornback...............................21
Stacy L.
Inman..........................................22
Kathleen
LaMay........................................24
Carl B.A. Lange, III
..................................24
Siskiyou County Counsel
Donald R.
Langford..................................24
Stutz, Artiano, Shinoff &
Holtz,
A.P.C
Jeanne
Blumenfeld......................................9
Thomas Law Firm
Allen L.
Thomas........................................38
Thomas M. Griffin Law Offices
Thomas M.
Griffin....................................19
Thurbon & McHaney, LL P
Lindsay K.
Anderson...................................7
Erin E.
Holbrook......................................21
Jacqueline S.
McHaney.............................26
Tulare County Counsel
Gary S. de
Malignon.................................13
Carol L.
Laird............................................23
Harold W.
Wood......................................41
UCLA Chancellor’s Office
Kevin S.
Reed............................................32
Ventura USD
Anthony M.
Ramos..................................32
Whittier Area Cooperative
Special
Education Program
Darin W.
Barber..........................................8
Worley Schwartz Garfield
& Prairie, LL P
Timothy K.
Garfield.................................18
Kristina
Lupariello....................................25
Attorneys listed by firm
Antelope Valley Union HSD
Bridget
Cook.............................................12
Atkinson, Andelson, Loya,
Ruud & Romo
Lisa R.
Allred...............................................7
Patrick J.
Balucan........................................8
Gerald A.
Conradi....................................12
Eve Peek
Fichtner......................................16
Terry
Filliman...........................................16
Todd A.
Goluba.........................................18
Patrick A.
Gunn........................................19
Elizabeth B.
Hearey..................................20
Janice J.
Hein.............................................20
Jennifer E.
Henry......................................20
Scott K.
Holbrook.....................................21
Salvador O. Holguin,
Jr............................21
Paul M.
Loya.............................................25
Peter J.
Lucey.............................................25
Donna M.
Matties....................................26
Chesley D.
Quaide....................................32
Marleen L.
Sacks.......................................34
Clifford D.
Weiler.....................................40
Mark S.
Williams......................................40
James Scot
Yarnell.....................................41
Bergman & Dacey, Inc.
Gregory M.
Bergman..................................9
Best Best & Krieger, LL P
Jack B.
Clarke............................................11
Paula de
Sousa...........................................13
Martin
Fine...............................................16
Dina O.
Harris..........................................20
Steven E.
Lake...........................................24
William
Merrill.........................................27
Ricardo J.
Soto..........................................37
Katherine
Starn.........................................37
Van T.
Vu..................................................39
Airionna
Whitaker....................................40
Brisbane ESD
Stephen J.
Waterman................................39
California Department of Education
Marsha A.
Bedwell......................................8
California School Law Publishers
Lee
Port......................................................31
Carlsen Thomas, LL P
Susan
Carlsen............................................11
Vida
Thomas.............................................38
Cotati-Rohnert Park USD
Barbara J.
Vrankovich...............................39
California School
Boards Association
John
Bukey................................................10
Judy
Cias....................................................11
Martin
Gonzalez.......................................18
Richard
Hamilton.....................................19
Bode
Owoyele...........................................30
de Goede, Dunne & Martin
A Professional Corporation
Mary Beth de
Goede.................................13
Ed/Law
Loren A.
Carjulia......................................11
Erickson, Beasley & Hewitt LL P
Brenda Aguilar-
Guerrero............................7
Fagen Friedman &
Fulfrost, LL P
Dean Adams................................................7
Sophie C. Agopian......................................7
Vivian Anaya...............................................7
Shawn Olson Brown.................................10
Deborah R.G. Cesario..............................11
Roy A. Combs...........................................12
Summer Dalessandro................................13
Rachel Disario...........................................14
Peter K. Fagen...........................................15
Christopher J. Fernandes..........................16
James B. Fernow........................................16
Douglas Freifeld........................................17
Howard A. Friedman................................17
Howard J. Fulfrost....................................17
Angela Gordon..........................................18
Melissa Hatch............................................20
Vivian Haun..............................................20
Emilia C. Huntley.....................................22
Laurie S. Juengert......................................22
Christopher D. Keeler...............................23
Elise Kirsten...............................................23
Joel B. Mason............................................26
Diana K. McDonough.............................26
Kathy McKee............................................27
Kelly R. [Angell] Minnehan.......28
Elizabeth B. Mori......................................28
Sarah Orman.............................................30
Susan Park.................................................30
Wesley Parsons..........................................31
Melanie A. Petersen...................................31
Jonathan P. Read.......................................32
Lauri E. Reynolds......................................33
Lee Rideout...............................................33
Jennifer R. Rowe.......................................33
Tiffany Santos...........................................34
William F. Schuetz....................................35
Gretchen M. Shipley.................................35
Ricardo R. Silva.........................................35
Lenore Silverman......................................36
Kimberly Smith.........................................36
Joshua Stevens...........................................37
Emily E. Sugrue........................................37
Kerrie Taylor..............................................38
Jan E. Tomsky...........................................38
Luis Carlos Villegas...................................39
Filarsky & Watt, LL P
Eileen Nucho.............................................30
Sharon A. Watt..........................................40
Geoff Winterowd......................................40
Fresno COE
Linda Bacon................................................8
Dwaine L. Chambers................................11
Kidd P. Crawford......................................12
Girard, Vinson & Trujillo LL P
Heather Edwards.......................................15
Griswold, LaSalle, Cobb, Dowd
& Gin, LL P
Randy L. Edwards.....................................15
Gutierrez & Vera, LL P
Lynn Murphy............................................29
Ronald T. Vera..........................................39
Hopkins & Carley,
A Law Corporation
Richard M. Noack....................................29
Geraldine Jaffe
...................................................................22
Kay and Stevens
William E. Kay.........................................22
Janae H. Novotny.....................................30
Sandra Smith.............................................36
Janet Cory Sommer...................................36
M. Carol Stevens.......................................37
Kingsley Bogard Thompson
Kim Kingsley Bogard.................................9
Paul Gant...................................................17
Robert E. Kingsley....................................23
Kronick, Moskovitz,
Tiedemann & Girard
Michelle L. Cannon..................................10
P. Addison Covert.....................................12
Diane Marshall Freeman..........................17
Marcy L. Gutierrez....................................19
Christian M. Keiner..................................23
Emily E. LaMoe........................................24
Jennifer A. Postel.......................................31
Anne M. Sherlock.....................................35
Lake COE
John A. Drummond.................................14
Law Offices of David S. Bristol
David S. Bristol...........................................9
Law Offices of Michael J. Keebler
Michael J. Keebler.....................................22
Law Offices of Virginia A. Riegel
Virginia A. Riegel......................................33
Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Bruce
Barsook.............................................8
Michael
Blacher...........................................9
Debra
Bray...................................................9
Peter J.
Brown............................................10
Mary L.
Dowell.........................................14
Donna
Evans.............................................15
Adrianna
Guzman....................................19
Arlin
Kachalia...........................................22
Marla
Letellier...........................................25
Andrew
Lu.................................................25
Jesse
Maddox.............................................26
Carla
McCormack....................................26
Art
Meneses...............................................
27
Pilar
Morin................................................29
Melanie
Poturica.......................................31
Desiree Reed-
Francois...............................33
Cepideh
Roufougar...................................33
Laura J.
Schulkind....................................35
Brian
Walter..............................................39
Donna
Williamson...................................40
Alex
Wong.................................................41
Maiya
Yang................................................41
Littler Mendelson
Adam J.
Fiss...............................................16
Los Angeles COE
Shari Kim
Gale..........................................17
Sung Yon
Lee.............................................24
Monique C.
Shay......................................35
Los Angeles USD
Maribel S.
Medina....................................27
Lozano Smith
Scott G.
Cross...........................................13
Harold M.
Freiman...................................17
Dulcinea A.
Grantham.............................18
Louis T.
Lozano........................................25
Daniel
Maruccia........................................26
Ruth E.
Mendyk.......................................27
Stephen A.
Mendyk...................................27
David
Moreno...........................................28
Karen M.
Rezendes...................................33
Roberta L.
Rowe.......................................33
Peter A.
Sansom........................................34
Trevin E.
Sims...........................................36
Michael E.
Smith......................................36
Manhattan Beach USD
Nancy
Hersman........................................21
Meyers, Nave, Riback,
Silver & Wilson
Richard Pio
Roda......................................31
Miller Brown & Dannis
Candace
Bandoian......................................8
Nectaria
Belantis.........................................8
Marilyn J.
Cleveland.................................12
Sarah
Daniel..............................................13
Dora
Dome...............................................14
Andra M.
Donovan..................................14
Sue Ann Salmon
Evans.............................15
Christopher M.
Fallon..............................15
Debra
Ferdman.........................................15
Chad J.
Graff.............................................18
David G.
Miller.........................................28
Damara L.
Moore.....................................28
Janet L.
Mueller.........................................29
Jonathan A.
Pearl......................................31
Elizabeth Rho-
Ng.....................................33
Samuel R.
Santana....................................34
Lawrence M.
Schoenke.............................35
Sarah L.W.
Sutherland..............................37
Deborah L.
Ungar.....................................38
Enrique M.
Vassallo..................................39
Sandra
Woliver..........................................41
Joung H.
Yim............................................41
Napa Valley USD
Sally Jensen
Dutcher.................................14
Nordman, Cormany, Hair &
Compton, LL P
Nancy
Miller.............................................28
North Coast Schools Legal
Consortium
Steve L.
Hartsell........................................20
Orange COE
Claire Y.
Morey.........................................28
Lysa M.
Saltzman......................................34
Ronald D.
Wenkart..................................40
Parham & Rajcic
Pamela A.
Dempsey..................................13
William A.
Diedrich.................................13
Jackson E.
Parham....................................30
John M.
Rajcic...........................................32
Parker & Covert LL P
Spencer E.
Covert......................................12
Nancy Finch-
Heuerman...........................16
Barbara J.
Ginsberg...................................18
Douglas N.
Yeoman..................................41
Parks, Dingwall & Associates
Linda R.
Parks...........................................30
Patterson, Ritner,
Lockwood & Jurich
Deanna M.
Brown....................................10
Rodney
Ritner...........................................33
Peralta Community College
District
Thuy Thi
Nguyen......................................29
Placer County Office of Education
Keith J.
Bray................................................9
Procopio Cory
Hargreaves & Savitch
Celia A.
Brewer...........................................9
Gregory V.
Moser......................................29
Rutan & Tucker, LL P
Jennifer
Brown..........................................10
S. Daniel
Harbottle...................................19
Ski
Harrison..............................................
20
David C.
Larsen........................................24
Denise L.
Mester.......................................27
Epiphany
Owen........................................30
Lyndsy B.
Rutherford...............................34
Karen Van
Dijk.........................................39
Sacramento COE
Karen
Steentofte........................................37
San Diego USD
Theodore A.
Buckley.................................10
Sandra Jones Anderson
....................................................................
.7
San Francisco County &
USD
Victoria
Li..................................................25
Miguel A.
Marquez...................................26
Angela
Miller.............................................28
William M.
Quinn...................................32
San Juan USD
Linda C.T.
Simlick....................................36
San Mateo County Counsel
Aimee B.
Armsby........................................7
John C.
Beiers..............................................8
Timothy J.
Fox..........................................17
Michael
Murphy.......................................29
John D.
Nibbelin.......................................29
Eugene
Whitlock......................................40
Santa Clara County Counsel
Lori E.
Pegg...............................................31
Santa Rosa City Schools
George R.
Valenzuela................................38
School & College Legal
Services
of California
Carl
Corbin...............................................12
Adam S.
Ferber..........................................15
Marko H.
Fong.........................................16
Clare
Gibson..............................................18
Robert J.
Henry.........................................21
Joseph C.
Kinkade....................................23
Nancy L.
Klein..........................................23
Janna L.
Lambert......................................24
Margaret M.
Merchat...............................27
Susanne K.
Reed.......................................32
Noel J.
Shumway.......................................35
Patrick D.
Sisneros....................................36
Ralph D.
Stern..........................................37
Schools Legal Service
Christopher
Burger...................................10
Peter C.
Carton.........................................11
Patricia T.
Castle.......................................11
Carol
Grogan............................................19
Alan B.
Harris...........................................19
Grant H.
Herndon....................................21
Christopher
Hine......................................21
William A.
Hornback...............................21
Stacy L.
Inman..........................................22
Kathleen
LaMay........................................24
Carl B.A. Lange, III
..................................24
Siskiyou County Counsel
Donald R.
Langford..................................24
Stutz, Artiano, Shinoff &
Holtz,
A.P.C
Jeanne
Blumenfeld......................................9
Thomas Law Firm
Allen L.
Thomas........................................38
Thomas M. Griffin Law Offices
Thomas M.
Griffin....................................19
Thurbon & McHaney, LL P
Lindsay K.
Anderson...................................7
Erin E.
Holbrook......................................21
Jacqueline S.
McHaney.............................26
Tulare County Counsel
Gary S. de
Malignon.................................13
Carol L.
Laird............................................23
Harold W.
Wood......................................41
UCLA Chancellor’s Office
Kevin S.
Reed............................................32
Ventura USD
Anthony M.
Ramos..................................32
Whittier Area Cooperative
Special
Education Program
Darin W.
Barber..........................................8
Worley Schwartz Garfield
& Prairie, LL P
Timothy K.
Garfield.................................18
Kristina
Lupariello....................................25
The NSBA tries to prevent parent from suing over dark isolation room.
Court Revives Suit Over School Isolation Room
By Mark Walsh
Education Week
August 1, 2011
A federal appeals court has revived a lawsuit filed by the mother of a 7-year-old autistic
child who was repeatedly locked in a dark isolation room at his school for misbehavior.
An en banc panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, in San Francisco,
ruled 8-3 that the Washington state mother's suit raised constitutional claims in addition
to claims under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Thus, the entire
suit did not have to exhaust administrative remedies under the federal special education
law, the court held in a closely watched case that included briefs from the Obama
administration and from the National School Boards Association.
The mother's lawsuit challenges the use by a Washington state school district of an
isolation room for her son, identified in court papers as D.P. According to court papers,
an elementary school teacher in the Peninsula School District, based in Gig Harbor,
Wash., used a small "safe room" to give students timeouts when they misbehaved.
D.P.'s parents initially gave grudging consent to placing their son in the safe room as
part of his individualized education plan. However, they raised objections after D.P. was
locked in the room several times and urinated and defecated on himself, the suit
contends.
The mother's suit for unspecified damages raises claims under the Fourth, Eighth, and
Fourteenth Amendments, as well as alleging that the school violated procedures under
the IDEA. But because the mother did not exhaust administrative remedies under the
federal special education law, both a federal district court and a three-judge panel of the
9th Circuit court had ruled for the school district.
In its July 29 decision in Payne v. Peninsula School District, the larger 9th Circuit court
panel said it was not deciding whether any of the suit's claims had merit. But it ordered
the district court to allow the mother to amend her suit to flesh out her civil rights claims.
Then, the court must decide whether those claims are related to the IDEA and require
administrative "exhaustion."
"We hold that the IDEA's exhaustion provision applies only in cases where the relief
sought by a plaintiff in the pleadings is available under the IDEA," said the majority
opinion by U.S. Circuit Judge Jay S. Bybee. "Non-IDEA claims that do not seek relief
available under the IDEA are not subject to the exhaustion requirement, even if they
allege injuries that could conceivably have been redressed by the IDEA."
Writing for the dissenters, Judge Carlos T. Bea said the majority was nullifying the intent
of Congress when it passed the IDEA.
"The newly restricted exhaustion requirement will allow plaintiffs—through
gamesmanship and cleverly-crafted pleadings—to subject school districts to civil liability
for money damages, without first giving school districts the opportunity to remedy the
plaintiff's injuries under the IDEA," Judge Bea said.
The exhaustion-of-remedies issue, though technical, attracted friend-of-the-court briefs
on opposing sides. The Obama administration, siding with the mother, argued in a brief
that "the IDEA does not require a plaintiff who seeks only compensatory damages for
past unconstitutional conduct and has resolved all prospective educational issues to
request a due process hearing before suing."
"The IDEA was not intended to be, and should not be construed as, a shield from liability
for those school districts and their employees who unconstitutionally abuse seclusion
and restraint techniques when dealing with children with disabilities," the brief added.
The NSBA, meanwhile, sided with the Peninsula district, arguing in its brief that
"relaxing the IDEA's administrative exhaustion requirement does violence to
Congress' intent to ensure expeditious, less adversarial dispute resolution
with minimal emotional and financial costs to the parties."
The NSBA also said in its brief that there is no consensus among educational
experts for or against using student seclusion techniques such as isolation
rooms, and that "Washington state law specifically countenances the use of
isolation as an aversive intervention special education strategy."
Court Revives Suit Over School Isolation Room
By Mark Walsh
Education Week
August 1, 2011
A federal appeals court has revived a lawsuit filed by the mother of a 7-year-old autistic
child who was repeatedly locked in a dark isolation room at his school for misbehavior.
An en banc panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, in San Francisco,
ruled 8-3 that the Washington state mother's suit raised constitutional claims in addition
to claims under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Thus, the entire
suit did not have to exhaust administrative remedies under the federal special education
law, the court held in a closely watched case that included briefs from the Obama
administration and from the National School Boards Association.
The mother's lawsuit challenges the use by a Washington state school district of an
isolation room for her son, identified in court papers as D.P. According to court papers,
an elementary school teacher in the Peninsula School District, based in Gig Harbor,
Wash., used a small "safe room" to give students timeouts when they misbehaved.
D.P.'s parents initially gave grudging consent to placing their son in the safe room as
part of his individualized education plan. However, they raised objections after D.P. was
locked in the room several times and urinated and defecated on himself, the suit
contends.
The mother's suit for unspecified damages raises claims under the Fourth, Eighth, and
Fourteenth Amendments, as well as alleging that the school violated procedures under
the IDEA. But because the mother did not exhaust administrative remedies under the
federal special education law, both a federal district court and a three-judge panel of the
9th Circuit court had ruled for the school district.
In its July 29 decision in Payne v. Peninsula School District, the larger 9th Circuit court
panel said it was not deciding whether any of the suit's claims had merit. But it ordered
the district court to allow the mother to amend her suit to flesh out her civil rights claims.
Then, the court must decide whether those claims are related to the IDEA and require
administrative "exhaustion."
"We hold that the IDEA's exhaustion provision applies only in cases where the relief
sought by a plaintiff in the pleadings is available under the IDEA," said the majority
opinion by U.S. Circuit Judge Jay S. Bybee. "Non-IDEA claims that do not seek relief
available under the IDEA are not subject to the exhaustion requirement, even if they
allege injuries that could conceivably have been redressed by the IDEA."
Writing for the dissenters, Judge Carlos T. Bea said the majority was nullifying the intent
of Congress when it passed the IDEA.
"The newly restricted exhaustion requirement will allow plaintiffs—through
gamesmanship and cleverly-crafted pleadings—to subject school districts to civil liability
for money damages, without first giving school districts the opportunity to remedy the
plaintiff's injuries under the IDEA," Judge Bea said.
The exhaustion-of-remedies issue, though technical, attracted friend-of-the-court briefs
on opposing sides. The Obama administration, siding with the mother, argued in a brief
that "the IDEA does not require a plaintiff who seeks only compensatory damages for
past unconstitutional conduct and has resolved all prospective educational issues to
request a due process hearing before suing."
"The IDEA was not intended to be, and should not be construed as, a shield from liability
for those school districts and their employees who unconstitutionally abuse seclusion
and restraint techniques when dealing with children with disabilities," the brief added.
The NSBA, meanwhile, sided with the Peninsula district, arguing in its brief that
"relaxing the IDEA's administrative exhaustion requirement does violence to
Congress' intent to ensure expeditious, less adversarial dispute resolution
with minimal emotional and financial costs to the parties."
The NSBA also said in its brief that there is no consensus among educational
experts for or against using student seclusion techniques such as isolation
rooms, and that "Washington state law specifically countenances the use of
isolation as an aversive intervention special education strategy."
Golden Bell Awards Donors
Without the support and generous contributions of individuals and corporations from
throughout the state, the Golden Bell Awards program would not be possible. We wish
to recognize our 2010 Golden Bell Sponsors/Business Affiliates and express deep
appreciation for their support of excellence in education.
// Diamond //
Fagen Friedman and Fulfrost
// Gold //
George K. Baum & Company Olson, Hagel & Fishburn, LLP
//Silver //
BCA Architects Best Best & Krieger,
LLP HMC Architects Lozano Smith Orrick,
Herrington & Sutcliffe,
LLP TDS Group Total School Solutions
// Bronze //
Breon & Shaeffer,
PLC Gutierrez & Vera Johnson,
Schachter & Lewis,
APLC Lou Barber & Associates,
Inc. Middleton, Young & Minney,
LLP Parker & Covert,
LLP CSBA’s Educational Legal Alliance
Awards luncheon
Golden Bell Award winners will receive special recognition at an awards luncheon on
Saturday, December 3, 2011, in San Diego. The event is held in conjunction with CSBA’
s Annual Education Conference. Golden Bell winners will also be invited to lead a one-
hour Golden Bell Showcase discussion about their program at the conference on
Saturday morning from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. A statewide CSBA news release will be
disseminated and a sample news release will be prepared for use by the winning school
districts and county offices of education.
The Golden Bell Awards program, now in its 32nd year, promotes excellence in
education by recognizing outstanding programs in school districts and county offices of
education throughout California. Golden Bell Awards reflect the depth and breadth of
education programs necessary to address students’ changing needs. This awards
program contributes to the development and evaluation of curriculum, instruction and
support services by:
•seeking out and recognizing sustainable,
•innovative or exemplary programs which have been developed and successfully
implemented by California teachers and administrators;
•recognizing and supporting educators who invest extra energy and time to make a
demonstrated difference for students; promoting models which have made a difference
•for students; and focusing on the commitment to ensure that the needs of all students
are met.
•focusing on the commitment to ensure that the needs of all students are met.
Without the support and generous contributions of individuals and corporations from
throughout the state, the Golden Bell Awards program would not be possible. We wish
to recognize our 2010 Golden Bell Sponsors/Business Affiliates and express deep
appreciation for their support of excellence in education.
// Diamond //
Fagen Friedman and Fulfrost
// Gold //
George K. Baum & Company Olson, Hagel & Fishburn, LLP
//Silver //
BCA Architects Best Best & Krieger,
LLP HMC Architects Lozano Smith Orrick,
Herrington & Sutcliffe,
LLP TDS Group Total School Solutions
// Bronze //
Breon & Shaeffer,
PLC Gutierrez & Vera Johnson,
Schachter & Lewis,
APLC Lou Barber & Associates,
Inc. Middleton, Young & Minney,
LLP Parker & Covert,
LLP CSBA’s Educational Legal Alliance
Awards luncheon
Golden Bell Award winners will receive special recognition at an awards luncheon on
Saturday, December 3, 2011, in San Diego. The event is held in conjunction with CSBA’
s Annual Education Conference. Golden Bell winners will also be invited to lead a one-
hour Golden Bell Showcase discussion about their program at the conference on
Saturday morning from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. A statewide CSBA news release will be
disseminated and a sample news release will be prepared for use by the winning school
districts and county offices of education.
The Golden Bell Awards program, now in its 32nd year, promotes excellence in
education by recognizing outstanding programs in school districts and county offices of
education throughout California. Golden Bell Awards reflect the depth and breadth of
education programs necessary to address students’ changing needs. This awards
program contributes to the development and evaluation of curriculum, instruction and
support services by:
•seeking out and recognizing sustainable,
•innovative or exemplary programs which have been developed and successfully
implemented by California teachers and administrators;
•recognizing and supporting educators who invest extra energy and time to make a
demonstrated difference for students; promoting models which have made a difference
•for students; and focusing on the commitment to ensure that the needs of all students
are met.
•focusing on the commitment to ensure that the needs of all students are met.
San Diego
Education Report
Education Report
CCSA/CSA Joint Annual Meeting
California Council of School Attorneys and the County Counsels’ Association Joint
Annual Workshop Materials
December 4
School Law Year in Review: Legislation and Cases
• Budget Rick Pratt, Assistant Executive Director, Governmental Relations, CSBA
• K-12 including records and retention Michael Blacher, Partner, Liebert Cassidy
Whitmore
• Community Colleges Mark Williams, Attorney, Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost .
Breakout Sessions: Review of OAH Decisions
1) Special Education Howard Fulfrost, Partner, Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost
2) Layoffs (K-12 and Community Colleges Scot Yarnell, Partner, Atkinson, Andelson,
Loya, Ruud & Romo.
Charter Schools: Brown Act, Conflict of Interest, Facilities and Use, Oversight Issues
Laura Schulkind, Partner and Maiya Yang, Of Counsel, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore.
Immigrant Students, Immigrant Issues and the INS: Instructional Issues for the English
Learner Mary Hernandez, Partner, Garcia Calderon Ruiz.
Ethics: Peter Sansom, Partner, Sansom Willis LaFoe
California Council of School Attorneys and the County Counsels’ Association Joint
Annual Workshop Materials
December 4
School Law Year in Review: Legislation and Cases
• Budget Rick Pratt, Assistant Executive Director, Governmental Relations, CSBA
• K-12 including records and retention Michael Blacher, Partner, Liebert Cassidy
Whitmore
• Community Colleges Mark Williams, Attorney, Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost .
Breakout Sessions: Review of OAH Decisions
1) Special Education Howard Fulfrost, Partner, Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost
2) Layoffs (K-12 and Community Colleges Scot Yarnell, Partner, Atkinson, Andelson,
Loya, Ruud & Romo.
Charter Schools: Brown Act, Conflict of Interest, Facilities and Use, Oversight Issues
Laura Schulkind, Partner and Maiya Yang, Of Counsel, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore.
Immigrant Students, Immigrant Issues and the INS: Instructional Issues for the English
Learner Mary Hernandez, Partner, Garcia Calderon Ruiz.
Ethics: Peter Sansom, Partner, Sansom Willis LaFoe