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How do I pursue litigation for discrimination in the school against my son who has ADHD? My son is diagnosed with ADHD. We recently moved into a new state/school system. He is currently under a 504 plan, but the school refuses to follow it and issues punishments for actions that are due to his disability without any discussion with us (the parents).
For the first time in over thirty years, the nation's highest court has agreed to hear arguments about the level of educational benefit an IEP must provide in order to comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ("IDEA") and provide a Free and Appropriate Public Education ("FAPE").
We are pleased to announce that for the fourth consecutive year, Attorney Lillian Wong has been selected to the Super Lawyer New England Rising Star list for her work in School and Education Law. Lillian Wong is a special education attorney who represents and advocates for children's educational rights throughout Massachusetts. Her office is located in Topsfield, Massachusetts.
Like any litigation, a special education hearing can become expensive and risky. Therefore, many parents choose to enter settlement agreements, even paying part of the costs of special education programs, rather than go to a full hearing and risk losing. This is reflected in statistics from the Bureau of Special Education Appeals, indicating that over the last 10 years between 95 and 97 percent of all of these disputes are resolved without a full hearing. (See attached) This is not an unusual statistic. In Superior Court in Massachusetts the percentage of all types of litigation disposed without a trial is strikingly similar.
On October 27, 2016, Attorney Lillian Wong, the principal at The Law Office of Lillian E. Wong, LLC in Topsfield, and Attorney Eileen Haggerty, a partner at Kotin, Crabtree and Strong, LLP in Boston, will present to the Massachusetts Coalition to Defend Special Education. The Coalition is a major initiative of the Massachusetts Advocates for Children (“MAC”) and is comprised of over 400 parents of children with disabilities, advocates, and special education attorneys in the public and private sector.
On October 27, 2016, Attorney Lillian Wong and Attorney Eileen Haggerty, a partner at Kotin, Crabtree and Strong, LLP in Boston, will present to the Massachusetts Coalition to Defend Special Education. The Coalition is a major initiative of the Massachusetts Advocates for Children (“MAC”) and is comprised of over 400 parents of children with disabilities, advocates, and special education attorneys in the public and private sector.
Attorney Wong recently prevailed in a discovery dispute at the Bureau of Special Education Appeals ("BSEA"). The BSEA does not always publish its rulings, so this Order provides some insight into prehearing motion practice at the BSEA. The Ruling, In Re: Flavio & Beverly Public Schools BSEA #18-10763 (Byrne, 2018) can be read here.
Attorney Wong recently prevailed in an important discovery dispute at the Bureau of Special Education Appeals ("BSEA"). While the BSEA does not always publish its Rulings, this Ruling was published and can be read here - In Re: Student v. Arlington Public Schools BSEA # 16-11465 (Figueroa, 2016). This is the first published Ruling in Massachusetts regarding the relevance of text messages in special education disputes.
Wong & Boscarine LLC
P: (857) 529-8494
F: (617) 334-7306
info@wongboscarine.com
Cambridge Office
One Mifflin Place, Suite 400
Cambridge, MA 02138
Topsfield Office
15 Morningside Drive
Topsfield, MA 01983
