Patricia Mann Attorney at Law

As with any other branch of law, the legal procedures involved in protesting a public school regulation can get very complicated, very quickly. That’s why it’s a good idea to consult with an education lawyer early in the process to make sure you proceed correctly.

While the object of many civil law cases may be to receive monetary compensation for damages, it doesn’t always have to be. In some cases, your goal may be to stop someone from behaving in a certain manner.

There are important differences between the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Both can be used to guarantee children who have disabilities are given the opportunity to receive a public education.

When you meet with a civil attorney to discuss taking civil action, he or she will review the merits of your case and will offer sound advice on the matter. At the end of the session, you will know if it is in your best interests to move forward with any action.

One of the biggest events in US education law happened in 1974 with the passage of the Equal Education Opportunities Act. This act made it so that no state could deny access to an equal opportunity to education based on race, color, sex, or national origin.

Are you a college student receiving financial aid? Remember that you must accept legal responsibility for all agreements that you sign. Also, you must perform the work you have agreed upon if accepting College Work-Study or regular student employment.

Federal and state laws protect employees, and those seeking a job, from mistreatment, discrimination and harassment in the workplace, if the harassment arises because race, sex, age or any other personal characteristic specifically protected by law.

When you go up against the local public school administration (such as the school board or the superintendent’s office), it can be easy to feel intimidated by the legal might behind them. An education lawyer gives you a specialist in your corner so you feel confident in taking them on.

If you’ve experienced police brutality, there are a couple of steps you need to take right away. Try to get police officer names and badge numbers, and gather the names and phone numbers/contact information of all witnesses.

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), you as a parent have a right to actively participate when the state or local educational agency creates your child’s individualized education plan (IEP). In addition, you and your child have the right to legally challenge any decisions and resolve any disputes concerning your child’s educational needs.

Judge Francis Biddle (1866-1968) sat at the Nuremberg Trials and served as the US Attorney General from 1940 to 1945. Regarding the importance of documented civil law, he observed, In this court, the unwritten law is not worth the paper it isn’t written on.

Every state is mandated to actively locate and evaluate all kids in public school who may have disabilities that impair learning. A Child Find office must notify parents for approval before evaluating any student. Parents can also contact Child Find to request an evaluation for special education accommodations.

Have you ever heard of product liability law? That is a branch of civil law that deals with things we use that are manufactured or built. As consumers, we have a right to expect that a product will not be defective.

The hardest aspect of parenting a child with special needs is the legal- making sure that they are not discriminated against and get the educational rights they deserve. An attorney who specializes in the field can be a great help in meeting this challenge.

Many people think hiring an attorney is too expensive. But not having an attorney can be even more expensive, and devastating. You could lose everything. If you are in a legal bind, please contact us as soon as possible.

Bullying and harassment, especially sexual harassment, are expected to be discouraged in schools and dealt with, and most districts now have policies in place regarding this. However, if you think your child has been victimized, and the school did not take proper action to protect him or her, you may have legal recourse.

One of the benefits of mediation when it comes to the resolution of civil cases is that this process can facilitate open and calm communications between opposing parties to try to come up with a deal. However, no binding decisions are made and either party can walk away at any time.

Zero tolerance discipline policies have serious, negative repercussions for students and careful scrutiny of district guidelines is needed to protect them. If your child is facing penalties under zero tolerance provisions, seek legal help.