WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled in favor a student from Michigan who sought to sue his local school district for failing to meet his educational needs.
The unanimous decision of the court ruled that Miguel Luna Perez can pursue claims under the American with Disabilities Act against Sturgis Public Schools District.
Justice Neil Gorsuch made a brief decision on a technical matter. Perez could not bring a claim under ADA as he was already seeking relief in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Perez’s family claims that the school district did not provide sign language aides.
Perez was progressing normally and was on track to graduate high school. Perez was not going to receive a diploma, shocking his family.
Perez’s IDEA complaint was settled by the school, and the school promised to provide education at the Michigan School for the Deaf.
Perez sued then under the ADA and claimed compensatory damages.
Although the school district claimed that the lawsuit could not proceed due to the IDEA lawsuits, the Supreme Court disagreed with Tuesday’s decision.
Gorsuch stated that while lower courts had ruled that Perez could not sue for ADA damages under the IDEA, he clarified that “nothing in that provision blocks his way.”
Perez will be able to win the damages he seeks in lower courts.
