COVID-19   Law    Advocacy    Topics A-Z     Training    Wrights' Blog   Wrightslaw Store    Yellow Pages for Kids 
 Home > News> > Autism > 4th Circuit Issues Pro-Child Decision in ABA Lovaas Case (March 25, 2003)


The Special Ed Advocate newsletter
It's Unique ... and Free!

Enter your email address below:

2025
Training Programs


Mar. 18-19 - VA via ZOOM

Sept. 18 - MD via ZOOM

Full Schedule


Wrightslaw

Home
Topics from A-Z
Free Newsletter
Seminars & Training
Yellow Pages for Kids
Press Room
FAQs
Sitemap

Books & Training

Wrightslaw Storesecure store lock
  Advocate's Store
  Student Bookstore
  Exam Copies
Training Center
Mail & Fax Orders

Advocacy Library

Articles
Cool Tools
Doing Your Homework
Ask the Advocate
FAQs
Newsletter Archives
Short Course Series
Success Stories
Tips

Law Library

Articles
Caselaw
Fed Court Complaints
IDEA 2004
McKinney-Vento Homeless
FERPA
Section 504

Topics

Advocacy
ADD/ADHD
Allergy/Anaphylaxis
American Indian
Assistive Technology
Autism Spectrum
Behavior & Discipline
Bullying
College/Continuing Ed
Damages
Discrimination
Due Process
Early Intervention
  (Part C)

Eligibility
Episodic, such as
   Allergies, Asthma,
   Diabetes, Epilepsy, etc

ESSA
ESY
Evaluations
FAPE
Flyers
Future Planning
Harassment
High-Stakes Tests
Homeless Children
IDEA 2004
Identification & Child Find
IEPs
Juvenile Justice
Law School & Clinics
Letters & Paper Trails
LRE / Inclusion
Mediation
Military / DOD
Parental Protections
PE and Adapted PE
Privacy & Records
Procedural Safeguards
Progress Monitoring
Reading
Related Services
Research Based
  Instruction

Response to Intervention
  (RTI)

Restraints / Seclusion
   and Abuse

Retention
Retaliation
School Report Cards
Section 504
Self-Advocacy
Teachers & Principals
Transition
Twice Exceptional (2e)
VA Special Education

Resources & Directories

Advocate's Bookstore
Advocacy Resources
Directories
  Disability Groups
  International
  State DOEs
  State PTIs
Free Flyers
Free Pubs
Free Newsletters
Legal & Advocacy
Glossaries
   Legal Terms
   Assessment Terms
Best School Websites

 

4th Circuit Issues Pro-Child Decision
in ABA Lovaas Case

On March 25, 2003, the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued a unanimous decision in an ABA / Lovaas case.

In G. v. Fort Bragg Dependent Schools, the Court addressed the rights of children who attend Dept of Defense schools; FAPE & educational benefit; procedural safeguards and notice by parents; methodology issues; reimbursement for a home-based Lovaas program; compensatory education for failure to provide FAPE; prevailing party status & attorneys fees.

The Court described the background of the case as follows:

"G is the son of a Sergeant in the United States Air Force, stationed at Pope Air Force Base in Fayetteville, North Carolina. . ."

"Around the end of the 1995-1996 school year, concerned that G did not appear to be progressing in the development of appropriate behaviors and skills, G;s mother attended a conference on the "Lovaas" method. After some further research, G;s mother communicated to G's teachers and others within FBDS that she felt the Lovaas method held great promise for G."

"In May of 1996, FBDS proposed an IEP for G . . . the proposed IEP did not include any Lovaas techniques or methods, and G's mother rejected it."

"Instead, beginning in the summer of 1996, G's parents took steps to have the Lovaas method provided for G in their home by private consultants certified in its implementation. To pay the cost of the program, G's parents launched an ambitious fundraising effort, eventually raising over $37,000 from community sources."

Download the decision in G v. Fort Bragg Dependent Schools (pdf)

https://www.wrightslaw.com/law/caselaw/2003/4th.G.fortbragg.lovaas.pdf

The child's attorney is:
Paul L. Erickson, Esq.
Asheville Legal Center, Building One, Suite Three
1998 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, North Carolina 28803
(828) 684-7884
Fax (828) 684-6889
E-mail: justs4all@ioa.com

ABA / Lovaas Caselaw

ABA/Lovaas caselaw continues to evolve. If you want to learn more about these issues, it will help to read decisions will help. You will find more ABA/Lovaas cases on the Autism page and in the Caselaw Library.

T. H. v. Bd. Ed. Palatine IL (N. D. IL 1999)

T. H. v. Bd of Education of Palatine IL is a powerful well-written decision in ABA-Lovaas case; discusses methodology, IEP development process; IEP goals and objectives, individualization, educational benefit, unilateral placement by parents, reimbursement, standard of review.

https://www.wrightslaw.com/law/caselaw/case_ABA_IL_TH_9905.pdf

Michael v. Kanawaha (S.D. WVA 2000)

Michael M v. Kanawaha is one of Pete's favorite cases; the decision includes an excellent discussion of IEPs.

https://www.wrightslaw.com/law/caselaw/WV_kanawha_michaelm_00_04.pdf

Stefan Jaynes v. Newport News (E.D. VA 2000)

In Jaynes v. Newport News, the school failed to provide an appropriate program for a young child with autism; judge ordered school to reimburse parents more than 100K. (Pete Wright represented Stefan)

https://www.wrightslaw.com/law/caselaw/VA_jaynes_newportnews_00_0907.pdf

Stefan Jaynes v. Newport News (4th Cir. 2001)

Jaynes v. Newport News involves a child with autism whose parents provided intensive homebased ABA/Lovaas program; discussion of statutes of limitations, procedural safeguards, notice requirements, and reimbursement; 4th Circuit upholds earlier decision that school must reimburse parents for ABA / Lovaas program.

https://www.wrightslaw.com/law/caselaw/2001/4th.jaynes.nnews.htm

Amanda C. v. Clark County Sch. Dist. and Nevada Dept of Educ. (9th Cir. 2001)

In Amanda C. v. Clark County School District, the Court of Appeals reinstates the hearing officer's decision; cites school employees for failure to inform parents of rights; procedural safeguards violations.

https://www.wrightslaw.com/law/caselaw/2001/9th.amandaj.clarkco.nevada.htm

For more caselaw about special education issues, please visit the Caselaw Library https://www.wrightslaw.com/caselaw.htm

Autism

Please go to the Autism page for FAQs, articles, and legal resources about autism, extended school year, LRE / inclusion, book recommendations, free publications, and a short list of information and support groups about autism. https://www.wrightslaw.com/info/autism.index.htm

To Top

Home

Email Newsletter icon, E-mail Newsletter icon, Email List icon, E-mail List icon The Special Ed Advocate: It's Free!

Order Wrightslaw
Products Today!



Check Out
The Advocate's Store!

Wrightslaw on FacebookWrightslaw on TwitterWrightslaw YouTube Channel 

Wrightslaw Books
Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 3rd Edition, by Pam and Pete Wright
About the Book

Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 2nd Edition
About the Book

Wrightslaw: All About IEPs
About the Book

Wrightslaw: All About Tests and Assessments
About the Book

Wrightslaw: Special Education Legal Developments and Cases 2019
About the Book

Surviving Due Process: Stephen Jeffers v. School Board
About the DVD Video


The Advocate's Store


Understanding Your Child's
Test Scores (1.5 hrs)

Wrightslaw Special: $14.95