October Term 2022 · Docket 21-887
Must parents exhaust IDEA remedies before suing for ADA damages?
Parents seek ADA damages after settling an IDEA claim. Schools argue this path violates federal law.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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. Martinez argued the district neglected Miguel for twelve years.
Mr. Martinez claimed the district lied to his parents about progress.
Mr. Yang argued the side that brought the case followed the correct legal path.
Mr. Yang stated the side that brought the case settled the IDEA claim first. He then filed the ADA action for damages. He claimed he could not get those damages under the IDEA. Mr. Dvoretzky argued Congress channeled FAPE denial claims through IDEA procedures. He stated Congress wanted parents to use those specific procedures. He noted the default rule applies to post-settlement questions.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 55-51 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 55-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 55-51 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 55-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 53-23 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 53-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 41-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 41-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 11-41 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 11-41
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether a parent must finish all IDEA steps before suing for ADA damages. The dispute centers on the interaction between two federal education laws.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 55-51 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 55-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 55-51 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 55-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 11-41 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 11-41
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 18, 2023.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-45
What each side wants
Parents want to keep their ADA damages claim after settling the IDEA claim.
Schools want the court to dismiss the ADA damages claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 55-51 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 55-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 55-51 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 55-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 11-41 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 11-41
What each side says
Parents argue the ADA claim seeks different relief than the IDEA claim.
Schools argue Congress channeled all FAPE denial claims through IDEA exhaustion.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 55-51 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 55-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 55-51 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 55-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 11-41 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 11-41
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked if a progression of remedies implies exhaustion.
Justice Jackson asked if the statute contemplates parallel proceedings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 53-23 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 53-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 41-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 41-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-15
Why it matters
This case defines the boundary between IDEA and ADA remedies. It determines how parents access compensatory damages for educational failures. It shapes the procedural path for future disability education disputes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 55-51 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 55-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 55-51 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 55-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 11-41 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 11-41
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 13-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 53-23 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 53-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 41-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 41-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-15
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 55-51 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 55-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 55-51 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 55-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 11-41 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 11-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 55-51 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 55-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 55-51 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 55-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 11-41 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 11-41
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.