Glenn Agre has secured a significant victory in a pro bono case for a New York City student with disabilities. The student sued the NYC Board of Education and other city officials for accommodations that would allow her to receive critical special education services. The city forced the student to go to a hearing despite her having a very strong case for services, and the student prevailed.
Associate Nathan Ades successfully led the charge in federal court in the Southern District of New York to require the city to pay the student’s attorneys’ fees in connection with that underlying litigation, winning after multiple rounds of briefing and gamesmanship by the city attorneys. The fees will go to the non-profit organization, Advocates for Children of New York, that represented the student at the hearing.
“This decision will serve as an important reminder to the city that students should not have to go through a lengthy and expensive hearing process when they have meritorious claims for special education services,” said Nathan.