The U.S. Supreme Court has decided to consider the case of a 12-year-old-girl from Jackson, MI with cerebral palsy. The girl, Ehlena, was denied to keep her service dog in the classroom by the Jackson County Intermediate School District in 2009. Her parents, Stacy and Brent Fry, brought a case against the Napoleon Community Schools and the Jackson County Intermediate School District in 2012 under the American Disabilities Act.
The school districts, represented by GMH’s attorneys Timothy J. Mullins and Kenneth E. Chapie, felt a human aide was sufficient for Ehlena’s needs, and also support the fact that if the family had followed standard procedure, the dispute would have been resolved in just months. The Fry family failed adhere to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act procedures, which the districts believe prolonged the case unnecessarily. Both the U.S. District Court and the 6th Court have ruled in favor of the school districts, but final judgement will be determined by the Supreme Court, with hearings starting in October.
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