JOANNA SEYBERT, District Judge.
Plaintiff GM, a minor, by his parent and natural guardian, DM ("Plaintiff"), commenced this action against defendants Massapequa Union Free School District (the "District"), Massapequa Union Free School District Board of Education (the "Board"), Maria Haber ("Haber"), Amanda Lowry ("Lowry"), Diane Sales ("Sales"), Dorothy Ahl ("Ahl"), Charles Sulc ("Sulc"), and Lucille Iconis ("Iconis," and together with Lowry, Sales, Ahl, Sulc, the District, and the Board, the "Supervisor Defendants"), alleging,
GM, a thirteen year-old
GM's troubles at school began in January 2011, when Haber began teaching his fourth-grade class. (Compl. ¶ 18.) The Complaint alleges that Haber would routinely discipline GM for "actions that were the uncontrollable byproduct of his disability." (Compl. ¶ 27.) Haber's key disciplinary measure involved segregating GM from the class by sending him to a back room of the classroom. (Compl. ¶¶ 28, 29.) The room had a window, and it contained school and kitchen supplies. (Compl. ¶ 30.) While in that room, GM could not see the chalkboard or otherwise participate in class. (Compl. ¶ 30.) Haber did not assign GM separate work when she sent him to the storage room; her only instructions were to "have fun." (Compl. ¶ 31.) Haber sent GM to this storage room multiple times per week, sometimes every day, and sometimes multiple times per day. (Compl. ¶ 29.) The duration of his trips to the back room is not alleged.
In March 2011, DM learned that her son was being disciplined with trips to the back room. (Compl. ¶ 39.) DM first brought the matter to the attention of the School's Principal Amanda Lowry and school psychologist Dorothy Ahl, but neither took action. (Compl. ¶ 43.) She then contacted the Superintendent of the District, Charles Sulc, who ignored DM's calls. (Compl. ¶ 48.) Finally, DM wrote to the Board, but they too failed to respond. (Compl. ¶¶ 48, 50.)
The following academic year, GM was elected to a student council position. (Compl. ¶ 51.) At some point, Defendants divested GM of his position as a disciplinary measure. (Compl. ¶ 52.) Though the Complaint alleges GM was targeted, it is entirely devoid of any circumstances surrounding this event, including who stripped GM of his position or what GM did to warrant such a punishment. (Compl. ¶ 52.)
During GM's sixth-grade year (2012-2013), he continued to receive detention "for problems associated with his disability." (Compl. ¶ 55.) Additionally, DM repeatedly requested that Defendants provide GM with constant adult supervision so that he would not be bullied by other students. (Compl. ¶¶ 72, 83.) Defendants provided no such supervision, and as a result, other students frequently bullied GM. (Compl. ¶¶ 56-82.) The Complaint recounts a number of instances where GM was bullied both verbally and physically by other students, and it alleges that the bullying was a direct result of Defendants' failure to provide the added adult supervision. (Compl. ¶¶ 73, 83.) Students who bullied GM were allegedly either not disciplined at all or not sufficiently disciplined. (Compl. ¶¶ 59, 66, 69, 81.)
As a result of GM's alleged mistreatment, DM brings eight causes of action on his behalf: (1) a claim for disability discrimination in violation of the NYSHRL; (2) a Section 1983 claim for unlawful seizure in violation of the Fourth Amendment; (3) a Section 1983 action for violation of GM's Fourteenth Amendment right to due process; (4) a Section 1983 action for violation of GM's right to equal protection; (5) a claim of disability discrimination in violation of the ADA; (6) a claim for negligent hiring and administration of discipline; (7) a claim for negligence
The Court first considers whether it has subject matter jurisdiction over Plaintiff's claims. Because it concludes that it lacks subject matter jurisdiction over Plaintiff's Federal Claims and declines to exercise its supplemental jurisdiction over Plaintiff's State Claims, the Court does not reach the merits of Defendants' 12(b)(6) arguments.
"A case is properly dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under Rule 12(b)(1) when the district court lacks the statutory or constitutional power to adjudicate it."
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ("IDEA"), 20 U.S.C. § 1400
In addition to establishing various administrative remedies, the IDEA divests federal courts of subject matter jurisdiction over claims asserted by plaintiffs who have not first exhausted those remedies.
Even where a plaintiff's causes of action arise from sources other than the IDEA, such as the ADA or the Constitution, the IDEA's exhaustion requirement applies if those claims "assert claims for relief
The Second Circuit has repeatedly emphasized the breadth of the IDEA's exhaustion requirement. For example, in
Plaintiff does not allege the satisfaction of the administrative requirements of the IDEA. Nor does he argue that any exception to this exhaustion requirement is applicable. As a consequence, whether the Court has subject matter jurisdiction over Plaintiff's Federal Claims turns on whether they are subject to the exhaustion requirement of the IDEA.
Plaintiff's Federal Claims are subject to the IDEA's exhaustion requirement because they indisputably relate to and are inextricably intertwined with GM's access to a free appropriate public education. That Haber inappropriately disciplined the uncontrollable side effects of GM's disability, or that she employed teaching and disciplinary measures that exacerbated, rather than accommodated GM's disability are issues falling squarely within the province of the IDEA.
To cement its conclusion that Plaintiff's Federal Claims all arise from conduct addressable under the IDEA, the Court need look no further than paragraph eighty-three of the Complaint. There, Plaintiff summarizes the basis of the Federal Claims: "Defendants failed to provide [GM] with additional adult supervision, preferential seating, and modified assignments. As a result of their failure to provide GM with these services he has been subject to multiple instances of harassment and bullying by teachers, students, and administrators." (Compl. ¶ 83.) Later, the Complaint explains that Defendants classified issues associated with GM's disability as "behavioral" issues, in order "to avoid paying for the proper servies [sic]." (Compl. ¶ 86.) These allegations make clear that Plaintiff's suit challenges the adequacy of the accommodations provided to a disabled student and—perhaps particularly in GM's case—the often unfortunate and disconcerting consequences thereof. This sort of challenge "provides a textbook example of the types of cases justifying administrative exhaustion."
Accordingly, Plaintiff's Federal Claims are DISMISSED for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
Having found that the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over Plaintiff's Federal Claims, the Court declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over Plaintiff's State Claims.
For the foregoing reasons, both the motion of defendant Haber to dismiss the Complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and failure to state a claim pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) (Docket Entry 12) and the motion of the Supervisor Defendants to dismiss the Complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and for failure to state a claim pursuant to Federal Rules 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) (Docket Entry 15) are GRANTED. Plaintiff's Federal Claims are DISMISSED for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Plaintiff's State Claims are DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE to refiling in the appropriate court. The Clerk of the Court is directed to enter judgment consistent with this Memorandum and Order and to mark this case CLOSED.
SO ORDERED.