United States Fourth Circuit

In case involving autistic child arising under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the determination that an individualized education program for the boy was not adequate and that defendant school board is obligated to pay costs of private school is vacated as the district court failed to give the required deference to the state hearing officer-s decision.

Appellate Information

• Argued 12/06/2007
• Decided 02/14/2008
• Published 02/14/2008

Judges

• Before NIEMEYER and TRAXLER, Circuit Judges, and HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.

Court

• United States Fourth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:  (No. 06-2068) John Francis Cafferky, Blankingship & Keith, P.C., Fairfax, Virginia, for Appellant.  Philip Carter Strother, Richmond, Virginia, for Appellees.  (No. 07-1320) Bradford Allen King, Harrell & Chambliss, Richmond, Virginia, for Appellant.  Robert Jackson Allen, Strother Law Offices, P.L.C., Richmond, Virginia, for Appellees.   ON BRIEF:  (No. 06-2068) Yvonne S. Wellford, Office of the County Attorney, Hanover, Virginia;  Bradford A. King, Harrell & Chambliss, Richmond, Virginia, for Appellant.  Robert Jackson Allen, Strother Law Offices, P.L.C., Richmond, Virginia, for Appellees.  Kathleen S. Mehfoud, Reed Smith, L.L.P., Richmond, Virginia, for Amicus Supporting Appellant.  Adrienne E. Volenik, Director, Jovonni Armstead, Kathleen Murphy, Rebecca Rockwood, Andrea Tompkins, Jerrell Williams, Third Year Law Students, Disability Law Clinic, Children's Law Center, Richmond School of Law, University of Richmond, Virginia;  Jonathan Martinis, Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy, Richmond, Virginia, for Amici Supporting Appellees.  (No. 07-1320) Yvonne S. Wellford, Office of the County Attorney, Hanover, Virginia, for Appellant.   Philip Carter Strother, Richmond, Virginia, for Appellees.