(1) Exhaustion of the administrative procedures established by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is unnecessary when the gravamen of the plaintiff's suit is something other than the denial of the IDEA's core guarantee of a "free appropriate public education"; and (2) the case is remanded to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit for a proper analysis of whether the gravamen of E.F.'s complaint -- which alleges only disability-based discrimination, without making any reference to the adequacy of the special-education services E.F.'s school provided -- charges, and seeks relief for, the denial of a FAPE.
Judgment
Vacated and remanded, 8-0, in an opinion by Elena Kagan on Feb 22, 2017. Justice Alito filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment, in which Justice Thomas joined.
Proceedings & orders timeline
Oct 15, 2015Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due November 18, 2015)
Nov 5, 2015Order extending time to file response to petition to and including December 18, 2015.
Dec 18, 2015Brief of respondents Napoleon Community Schools, et al. in opposition filed.
Dec 23, 2015Reply of petitioners Stacy Fry, et vir, as next friends of minor E. F. filed.
Dec 30, 2015DISTRIBUTED for Conference of January 15, 2016.
Jan 19, 2016The Solicitor General is invited to file a brief in this case expressing the views of the United States.
May 20, 2016Brief amicus curiae of United States filed.
May 31, 2016Supplemental brief of respondents Napoleon Community Schools, et al. filed.
May 31, 2016Supplemental brief of petitioners Stacy Fry, et vir, as next friends of minor E. F. filed.
Jun 7, 2016DISTRIBUTED for Conference of June 23, 2016.
Jun 27, 2016DISTRIBUTED for Conference of June 27, 2016.
Jun 28, 2016Petition GRANTED.
Jul 27, 2016The time to file the joint appendix and petitioners' brief on the merits is extended to and including August 22, 2016.
Jul 27, 2016The time to file respondents' brief on the merits is extended to and including September 30, 2016.
Aug 2, 2016Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the respondents.
Aug 2, 2016Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, from counsel for the petitioners.
Oct 31, 2016Argued. For petitioners: Samuel R. Bagenstos, Ann Arbor, Mich.; and Roman Martinez, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.) For respondents: Neal K. Katyal, Washington, D. C.
Feb 22, 2017Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED. Kagan, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, and Sotomayor, JJ., joined. Alito, J., filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment, in which Thomas, J., joined.
Mar 27, 2017JUDGMENT ISSUED.
Recommended Citation: Fry v. Napoleon Community Schools, SCOTUSblog, https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/fry-v-napoleon-community-schools/