October Term 2016 · Docket 15-497
Must parents exhaust IDEA remedies before suing for damages?
Parents seek damages for their child's emotional distress. Schools argue they must first use IDEA procedures.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Bagenstos argued the statute keys exhaustion on relief sought.
Mr. Katyal argued Congress channeled disputes through education experts.
Mr. Martinez argued exhaustion is required only if relief is available under IDEA.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 20-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 44-4 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 44-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-50 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 34-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 34-10 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 34-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 10-40 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 10-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 46-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 20-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 20-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 22-36 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 22-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 40-50 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 40-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 4-4 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 4-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-42 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 34-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 30-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 42-34 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 42-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 6-24 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 6-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 20-26
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case involves a child with a disability. The parents sued for damages. The schools say they must use IDEA first.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 34-10 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 34-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 10-40 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 10-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 20-20
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 31, 2016.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 22-36 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 22-36
What each side wants
Parents want to sue for damages without using IDEA first.
Schools want parents to use IDEA before suing for damages.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 34-10 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 34-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 10-40 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 10-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 20-20
What each side says
Parents argue damages are not available under IDEA.
Schools argue IDEA exhaustion is required for all claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 34-10 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 34-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 10-40 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 10-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 20-20
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if the rule depends on the complaint.
Chief Justice Roberts asked about making two arguments.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 20-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 44-4 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 44-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-50 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 34-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 46-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 20-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 22-36 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 22-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 40-50 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 40-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 4-4 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 4-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-42 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 34-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 30-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 42-34 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 42-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 6-24 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 6-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 20-26
Why it matters
This case defines when parents must use IDEA. It affects access to courts for disability claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 34-10 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 34-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 10-40 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 10-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 20-20
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 20-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 44-4 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 44-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-50 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 34-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 46-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 20-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 22-36 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 22-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 40-50 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 40-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 4-4 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 4-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-42 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 34-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 30-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 42-34 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 42-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 6-24 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 6-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 20-26
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 34-10 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 34-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 10-40 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 10-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 20-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 34-10 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 34-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 10-40 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 10-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-44 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 20-20
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.