{"id":3389,"date":"2018-09-14T12:00:28","date_gmt":"2018-09-14T16:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/?p=3389"},"modified":"2019-10-04T10:29:05","modified_gmt":"2019-10-04T14:29:05","slug":"if-you-have-a-dispute-litigation-is-the-last-resort","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/if-you-have-a-dispute-litigation-is-the-last-resort\/","title":{"rendered":"If You Have a Dispute, Litigation is the Last Resort"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"padding-bottom:20px; padding-top:10px;\" class=\"hupso-share-buttons\"><!-- Hupso Share Buttons - https:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/ --><a class=\"hupso_pop\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hupso.com\/share\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/gallery\/share-button-gray.png\" style=\"border:0px\" alt=\"Share\" \/><\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\">var hupso_services=new Array(\"Twitter\",\"Facebook\",\"Google Plus\",\"Pinterest\",\"Linkedin\",\"StumbleUpon\",\"Digg\",\"Reddit\",\"Bebo\",\"Delicious\");var hupso_icon_type = \"labels\";var hupso_background=\"#FFFFFF\";var hupso_border=\"#FFFFFF\";var hupso_image_folder_url = \"\";var hupso_twitter_via=\"wrightslaw\";var hupso_url=\"\";var hupso_title=\"If%20You%20Have%20a%20Dispute%2C%20Litigation%20is%20the%20Last%20Resort\";<\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/js\/share.js\"><\/script><!-- Hupso Share Buttons --><\/div><blockquote><p>We requested that our son be put in an inclusion classroom at his home school. The school denied our request.<\/p>\n<p>We don&#8217;t have an attorney. What can we do? Should we threaten litigation?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-23341\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/conflict.meter_.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"490\" height=\"362\" \/>Never tell a school, or anyone else, that you plan to sue them. There are other ways to resolve parent-school disputes. Depending on the issue, you may continue to negotiate, file a complaint with the state, or request mediation. Litigation is the last resort.<\/p>\n<p>In most cases, threatening to sue makes things worse &#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Why? If you threaten to sue, the school may initiate litigation against <strong>YOU<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Schools initiate due process hearings against parents to get a Hearing Officer or Administrative Law Judge to issue a ruling that their program for your child is appropriate. If this happens, you will really be in the soup.<\/p>\n<p>What should you do?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Prepare<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Parents who are successful in resolving school problems do not threaten to sue. They play their cards close to their chests. They try other strategies to resolve their dispute with the school. They do not initiate a due process hearing until they have exhausted other ways to resolve their problem.<\/p>\n<p>If you do need to initiate litigation, you need to prepare for litigation. You are not prepared. You don&#8217;t have an attorney. You haven&#8217;t tried other ways to resolve your dispute with the school.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Consult with an Attorney<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft\" style=\"border: 1px solid black; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: left;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/nltr\/img\/yp.ad.new.125.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"147\" height=\"147\" \/>Most parents do not need to retain an attorney. They need a plan to resolve their dispute.<\/p>\n<p>Consider a consultation with an attorney who has expertise in special education law and litigation.<\/p>\n<p>To find an attorney who represents the interests of children with disabilities and their families, check the page for your state on the <span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><a style=\"color: #0066cc;\" title=\"Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities\" href=\"http:\/\/www.yellowpagesforkids.com\/\">Yellow Pages for Kids<\/a><\/span> site.<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.yellowpagesforkids.com\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\">http:\/\/www.yellowpagesforkids.com\/<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We built the <span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><a style=\"color: #0066cc;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.yellowpagesforkids.com\">Yellow Pages for Kids<\/a><\/span> site so parents and caregivers can get reliable information and support. When you visit your state Yellow Pages you will find many resources &#8211; attorneys, advocates, evaluators, tutors, programs, and support groups.<\/p>\n<p>Also check the website for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.copaa.org\/search\/custom.asp?id=1489\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\">Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates<\/span><\/span><\/a> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">for a list of attorneys and advocates in your state.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><a style=\"color: #0066cc;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.copaa.org\/search\/custom.asp?id=1489\">https:\/\/www.copaa.org\/search\/custom.asp?id=1489<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Before you interview or retain an attorney or advocate, read these articles:<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Guidelines for Choosing an Attorney to Represent Your Child's Interests\" href=\"https:\/\/www.copaa.org\/page\/GuidelinesAtt\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\">Guidelines for Choosing an Attorney to Represent Your Child&#8217;s Interests<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Guidelines for Choosing a Lay Advocate in Special Education\" href=\"https:\/\/www.copaa.org\/page\/GuidelinesAdv\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\">Guidelines for Choosing a Lay Advocate in Special Education<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/bks\/dvddp\/index.htm\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-13175\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/dp.cover_.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"140\" height=\"193\" \/><\/a>Surviving Due Process<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Before you consider litigation, watch the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/store\/dpdvd.html\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\">Surviving Due Process: When Parents and School District Disagree<\/span><\/span><\/a> DVD.<\/p>\n<p>The story is based on an actual case and will give you a good idea of what to expect in a due process hearing.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/store\/dpdvd.html\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #0066cc;\">https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/store\/dpdvd.html<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Good luck!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Pete &amp; Pam Wright<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #993300;\"><strong>You may also like&#8230;.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/?p=4216\/\"><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><span style=\"color: #993300;\">The Stress of Due Process<\/span><\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/info\/mediate.negot.disputes.htm\"><span style=\"color: #0066cc;\"><span style=\"color: #993300;\">How to Resolve Special Education Disputes: Negotiate, Mediate, Litigate<\/span><\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #993300;\"><a style=\"color: #993300;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/info\/pwn.throw.flag.htm\">Throwing the Flag: What to Do When the School Says &#8220;No&#8221;<\/a><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #993300;\"><a style=\"color: #993300;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/info\/pwn.refusal.martin.htm\/\">Prior Written Notice (PWN) is a Powerful Tool When Skillfully Used<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We requested that our son be put in an inclusion classroom at his home school. The school denied our request. We don&#8217;t have an attorney. What can we do? Should <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/if-you-have-a-dispute-litigation-is-the-last-resort\/\">Continue Reading \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23341,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,137,1266,35,7,11,136],"tags":[81,1320,36,1333,318],"class_list":["post-3389","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advocacy","category-attorneys","category-due-process","category-eligibility","category-legal-news","category-special-ed-law","category-strategies","tag-advocates","tag-attorneys","tag-due-process","tag-inclusion","tag-litigation"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3389","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3389"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3389\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25137,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3389\/revisions\/25137"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23341"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3389"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3389"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrightslaw.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}