Case: Georgia Advocacy Office v. Georgia

1:17-cv-03999 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

Filed Date: Oct. 11, 2017

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On October 11, 2017, parents of children with disabilities, the ARC of the United States and the Georgia Advocacy Office filed a class action lawsuit in federal court alleging that the State of Georgia has discriminated against thousands of public school students with disabilities by providing them with a separate and unequal education in the State’s Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Supports Program (GNETS) and that in so doing, the State, violates the Americans with Disabilities…

On October 11, 2017, parents of children with disabilities, the ARC of the United States and the Georgia Advocacy Office filed a class action lawsuit in federal court alleging that the State of Georgia has discriminated against thousands of public school students with disabilities by providing them with a separate and unequal education in the State’s Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Supports Program (GNETS) and that in so doing, the State, violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.    

The case was assigned to the Honorable Judge Michael L. Brown. The lawsuit named the State of Georgia, the governor, and several state officials and departments as defendants. The plaintiffs were represented by DLA Piper, Center for Public Representation, Bazelon, The Georgia Advocacy Office, The ARC of the U.S., Goodmark Law Firm.  

On January 8, 2018, the defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim. After briefing and oral argument, the court denied defendants’ motion in March 2020, allowing the lawsuit to move forward. In March 2021, the court denied defendants’ Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings and denied plaintiffs’ Motion to Consolidate. The parties are now engaging in discovery with a May 2023 deadline.

Summary Authors

NDRN (8/11/2022)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/13579396/parties/the-georgia-advocacy-office-v-state-of-georgia/


Judge(s)

Brown, Michael Lawrence (Georgia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Barkoff, Alison N. (Georgia)

Attorney for Defendant

Anderson, Kimberly K. (Georgia)

Bedard, Edward (Georgia)

Belinfante, Joshua Barrett (Georgia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:17-cv-03999

Class Action Complaint

Georgia Advocacy Office vs. State of Georgia

Oct. 11, 2017

Oct. 11, 2017

Complaint
77

1:17-cv-03999

Order

March 19, 2020

March 19, 2020

Order/Opinion

447 F.Supp.3d 1311

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/13579396/the-georgia-advocacy-office-v-state-of-georgia/

Last updated Dec. 16, 2024, 4:45 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Georgia

Case Type(s):

Disability Rights

Disability Rights

Education

Key Dates

Filing Date: Oct. 11, 2017

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

parents of children with disabilities, the ARC of the United States and the Georgia Advocacy Office filled the lawsuit

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

NDRN/Protection & Advocacy Organizations

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Pending

Defendants

Georgia, State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12111 et seq.

Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act), 29 U.S.C. § 701

Ex parte Young (federal or state officials)

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Due Process: Procedural Due Process

Due Process: Substantive Due Process

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Education

Disability and Disability Rights:

Disability, unspecified

P&A Associational Standing

Discrimination Basis:

Disability (inc. reasonable accommodations)