Welcome to Loughrey & Associates. Lawyers & Advocates for Disability Rights (LADR)

Welcome to Loughrey & Woelfel LLP. Attorneys at Law

Loughrey & Associates, (LADR) - Case Outcomes & Firm News

CASE OUTCOMES

Special Education

Since 2004, Ms. Loughrey has reached favorable outcomes for clients in either settlement or through a decision or order from a court or the California Department of Education (CDE). It is important to note that approximately 80% of cases filed for due process proceedings will reach a settlement before the due process hearing begins. Some of the outcomes reached in due process cases or CDE Compliance Orders include:

Determination of Eligibility for students previously denied;

Non-Public Agency or Non-Public School Placement and/or Services;

Related Services such as speech and language, occupational therapy, vision services, deaf and hard of hearing services;

Compensatory Education Awards for a denial of a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE);

Attorney Fee Reimbursement. Some examples of how we have helped other clients are shown by the links to decisions below:

Federal Civil Rights, Disability Discrimination and Due Process Hearing Appeals

We have also had acheived good outcomes for our clients in federal court. Below are a couple of our representative cases:

W.N. et al., v. Ripon Unified School District et. al., U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California Case No. 2:07-cv-166-GEB-EFB
This case invovled a student with Autism and included issues of disability discrimination where a school district expelled a student with a disability from an after school program due to his special needs - Autistic behaviors. The case also involved on-going retaliation against parents and student because parents continued to advocate on behalf of student to protect his IDEA, Section 504 and ADA rights. A confidential settlement agreement was reached in 2009.

C.S. et al. v. San Ramon Valley Unified School District et al., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California Case No. C06-02166 WHA.
This case involved a student with Autism who was in need of behavior intervention services. Parents filed for due process and won several issues but lost on the major issue involving placement; Parents appealed. The case was settled with the school district in a confidential settlement agreement.

Criminal Misdemeanor Appeals and Other Cases

Criminal Cases

Of the approximately 20 to 25 misdemeanor appeal cases that Ms. Loughrey has acted as appellant's counsel, she has achieved a complete reversal in two cases and partial reversal in two cases. Ms. Loughrey's average is better than the average reversal for misdemeanor cases in Contra Costa County (typically approximately 1% or less per year of all cases appealed from the trial court are reversed).

Additionally, Ms. Loughrey has negotiated pleas on behalf of persons charged with misdemeanor crimes ranging from petty theft to driving while under the influence (DUI).

Other Cases: Administrative Hearings (Non Special Education)

Ms. Loughrey has also successfully handled multiple Department of Motor Vehicle License Revocation proceedings related to an arrest for DUI where she assisted the Repondents/Defendants in avoiding a driver's license suspension.

Additionally, Ms. Loughrey sucessfully represented several day care providers by saving their small or large in home day care licenses in proceedings initiated against the provider by the Department of Social Services.

Disclaimer: Please note that past outcomes are for information purposes only and are not a guarantee of any outcome in any other case.

UPCOMING FIRM EVENTS & NEWS

Speaking Engagements

Ms. Loughrey has been invited to speak at several parent and professional groups regarding the IDEA, Section 504 and the ADA. Please visit this page for updates on locations and dates.

For organizations interested in having Ms. Loughrey present on the IDEA, Section 504 or the ADA, please contact our office for availability.

News

This fall Ms. Loughrey will be arguing before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals regarding an appeal from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California in the case of Z.F. et al., v. Ripon Unifide School District et al. Appellate Case No. 08-17708 in which six named Plaintiffs/Appellants have alleged broad based policies of discrimination across two counties and multiple school districts.

Additional information and details to follow as they become available from the court. Visit the court's website for dates of oral arguments scheduled: www.ca9.uscourts.gov