Thereafter, the Court found that the Plaintiffs had achieved prevailing party status under Section 1415(i)(3)(B)(i)(I) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 28 U.S.C. After Plaintiffs filed a Complaint in federal court for attorney’s fees, this Court held a hearing where it gave the parties an opportunity to set forth the facts of what had happened in the administrative proceedings. 2 Epstein had amassed fees in the amount of $49,450 by the time of Judge Schuster’s Order. In the span of a mere five months, having engaged in unnecessary and, in fact, what appears to be spiteful protracted litigation, Mr. Judge Schuster agreed and dismissed the petition as moot on January 28, 2014. The Defendants argued to Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) John Schuster, III, that the petition should be deemed moot because the Defendants were providing or were willing to provide all the relief J.L. Unable to resolve the matter, the Defendants moved for summary judgment months later. Epstein stonewalled and the Plaintiffs’ attorney’s fees escalated. with the relief the Plaintiffs were seeking. Gorman persisted, continuing to offer to provide J.L. Despite being immediately rebuffed by Mr. Within days of the request for due process, counsel for the Defendants, Brett Gorman, reached out to J.L.’s lawyer, Jamie Epstein, in an attempt to resolve the matter. The Plaintiffs’ petition for due process alleged that J.L.’s Individual Educational Programs (“IEPs”) and accommodations were inappropriate. attended seventh grade at the Clearview Regional School District for the 2013-14 school year and had previously attended the Harrison Township School District. (collectively, the “Plaintiffs”) filed a due process petition against Defendants Harrison Township Board of Education and Clearview Board of Education (collectively, the “Defendants” or “School District”) with the 1 New Jersey Office of Special Education. and J.L., the parents of J.L., a minor and a child with special needs, and J.L. Laurel, New Jersey 08054 Attorney for Defendants BUMB, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE: K.L. Gorman, Esquire Parker McCay PA 9000 Midlantic Drive, Suite 300 Mt. APPEARANCES: Jamie Epstein, Esquire 107 Cherry Parke, Suite C Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08002 Attorney for Plaintiffs Brett E.J. OPINION HARRISON TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION and CLEARVIEW BOARD OF EDUCATION, Defendants. 95 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY CAMDEN VICINAGE J.L., a minor, individually and by her Parents K.L. HARRISON TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION et al NOT FOR PUBLICATION Doc.

Harrison township school district nj