Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools, 598 U.S. 142, 143 S.Ct. 859 (2023)
N/AOUTCOME: Favorable settlement
In 2017, DRM attorneys helped Miguel file a case in administrative court, seeking relief under the ADA and the IDEA for Sturgis Public Schools’ failure to provide Miguel with a qualified sign language ... interpreter for 12 years. After receiving Miguel’s complaint, the administrative court first dismissed the ADA claim, and then later, Sturgis Public Schools and Miguel settled the IDEA claim. Miguel then filed suit in federal court, seeking money damages under the ADA for his past harm. The federal court dismissed Miguel’s ADA claim for failure to seek remedies for his IDEA claims in the administrative forum all the way through an administrative hearing. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the decision, even though Miguel had received complete relief for his IDEA claims and his ADA claim, seeking money damages not available under IDEA, was previously dismissed. The Supreme Court reversed the dismissal of Miguel’s ADA claim. Soon after the case was returned to the federal district court for the Western District of Michigan, Miguel and the school district reached a favorable settlement.
