Section 1415 (i)

(i) Administrative procedures

    (1) In general

      (A) Decision made in hearing

    • A decision made in a hearing conducted pursuant to subsection (f) or (k) shall be final, except that any party involved in such hearing may appeal such decision under the provisions of subsection (g) and paragraph (2).

      • (B) Decision made at appeal

    • A decision made under subsection (g) shall be final, except that any party may bring an action under paragraph (2).

    (2) Right to bring civil action

      (A) In general

    • Any party aggrieved by the findings and decision made under subsection (f) or (k) who does not have the right to an appeal under subsection (g), and any party aggrieved by the findings and decision made under this subsection, shall have the right to bring a civil action with respect to the complaint presented pursuant to this section, which action may be brought in any State court of competent jurisdiction or in a district court of the United States, without regard to the amount in controversy.

      • (B) Limitation

    • The party bringing the action shall have 90 days from the date of the decision of the hearing officer to bring such an action, or, if the State has an explicit time limitation for bringing such action under this subchapter, in such time as the State law allows.

      • (C) Additional requirements

    • In any action brought under this paragraph, the court—
      • (i) shall receive the records of the administrative proceedings;
      • (ii) shall hear additional evidence at the request of a party; and
      • (iii) basing its decision on the preponderance of the evidence, shall grant such relief as the court determines is appropriate.

    (3) Jurisdiction of district courts; attorneys’ fees

      (A) In general

    • The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction of actions brought under this section without regard to the amount in controversy.

      • (B) Award of attorneys’ fees

        (i) In general

      • In any action or proceeding brought under this section, the court, in its discretion, may award reasonable attorneys’ fees as part of the costs—
        • (I) to a prevailing party who is the parent of a child with a disability;
        • (II) to a prevailing party who is a State educational agency or local educational agency against the attorney of a parent who files a complaint or subsequent cause of action that is frivolous, unreasonable, or without foundation, or against the attorney of a parent who continued to litigate after the litigation clearly became frivolous, unreasonable, or without foundation; or
        • (III) to a prevailing State educational agency or local educational agency against the attorney of a parent, or against the parent, if the parent’s complaint or subsequent cause of action was presented for any improper purpose, such as to harass, to cause unnecessary delay, or to needlessly increase the cost of litigation.

        (ii) Rule of construction

      • Nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed to affect section 327 of the District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 2005.

      (C) Determination of amount of attorneys’ fees

    • Fees awarded under this paragraph shall be based on rates prevailing in the community in which the action or proceeding arose for the kind and quality of services furnished. No bonus or multiplier may be used in calculating the fees awarded under this subsection.

      • (D) Prohibition of attorneys’ fees and related costs for certain services

        (i) In general

      • Attorneys’ fees may not be awarded and related costs may not be reimbursed in any action or proceeding under this section for services performed subsequent to the time of a written offer of settlement to a parent if—
        • (I) the offer is made within the time prescribed by Rule 68 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or, in the case of an administrative proceeding, at any time more than 10 days before the proceeding begins;
        • (II) the offer is not accepted within 10 days; and
        • (III) the court or administrative hearing officer finds that the relief finally obtained by the parents is not more favorable to the parents than the offer of settlement.

        (ii) IEP Team meetings

      • Attorneys’ fees may not be awarded relating to any meeting of the IEP Team unless such meeting is convened as a result of an administrative proceeding or judicial action, or, at the discretion of the State, for a mediation described in subsection (e).

        • (iii) Opportunity to resolve complaints

      • A meeting conducted pursuant to subsection (f)(1)(B)(i) shall not be considered—
        • (I) a meeting convened as a result of an administrative hearing or judicial action; or
        • (II) an administrative hearing or judicial action for purposes of this paragraph.

      (E) Exception to prohibition on attorneys’ fees and related costs

    • Notwithstanding subparagraph (D), an award of attorneys’ fees and related costs may be made to a parent who is the prevailing party and who was substantially justified in rejecting the settlement offer.

      • (F) Reduction in amount of attorneys’ fees

    • Except as provided in subparagraph (G), whenever the court finds that—
      • (i) the parent, or the parent’s attorney, during the course of the action or proceeding, unreasonably protracted the final resolution of the controversy;
      • (ii) the amount of the attorneys’ fees otherwise authorized to be awarded unreasonably exceeds the hourly rate prevailing in the community for similar services by attorneys of reasonably comparable skill, reputation, and experience;
      • (iii) the time spent and legal services furnished were excessive considering the nature of the action or proceeding; or
      • (iv) the attorney representing the parent did not provide to the local educational agency the appropriate information in the notice of the complaint described in subsection (b)(7)(A),


        • the court shall reduce, accordingly, the amount of the attorneys' fees awarded under this section.

      (G) Exception to reduction in amount of attorneys’ fees

    • The provisions of subparagraph (F) shall not apply in any action or proceeding if the court finds that the State or local educational agency unreasonably protracted the final resolution of the action or proceeding or there was a violation of this section.

      • Severe Discrepancy
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      Last modified on November 7, 2019