Milne et al v. Gaden et al

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF SOUTH DAKOTA
WESTERN DIVISION
DWAYNE MILNE and JACLYNN PAUL, as
Guardians of B.M.,
Plaintiffs,
vs.
DR. GREG GADEN, in his individual and
official capacity; REBECCA LEEDS, in her
individual and official capacity;
HOLLI HOFFMAN, in her individual and
official capacity; CHARLIE SERSEN, in his
individual and official capacity; KARN
BAKER, in her individual and official capacity;
BROOKE CHENEY, in her individual and
official capacity; JAIMIE MUTTER, in her
individual and official capacity; LEAH
LUDWIG, in her individual and official
capacity; JESSICA CALLUM, in her individual
and official capacity; UNKNOWN STAFF
AT KNOLLWOOD ELEMENTARY, in their
individual and official capacity; DR. LORI
SIMON, in her individual and official capacity;
UNKNOWN STAFF AT RAPID CITY AREA
SCHOOL DISTRICT, in their individual and
official capacity; UNKNOWN STAFF AT
RAPID CITY SCHOOL BOARD, in their
individual and official capacity; and
UNKNOWN STAFF AT SOUTH DAKOTA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, in their
individual and official capacity,
Defendants,
5:22-CV-5017-LLP
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
On February 17, 2022, Plaintiffs Dwayne Milne and Jaclynn Paul, as guardians of B.M.,
(“Plaintiffs”) filed the instant action. (Doc. 1.) Plaintiffs sued the Defendants for violations of
18 U.S.C. § 1983, the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973 (“Rehab Act”), and Plaintiffs invoked supplemental jurisdiction to allege various state
law claims.
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PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
The initial Complaint included a claim under the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (“IDEA”). 	(Doc. 1, 	21 and Count IX). 	On February 28, 2022, Plaintiffs filed a First
Amended Complaint. 1 (Doc. 11.) 	The First Amended Complaint deleted the claim under the
IDEA but retained the other claims. (Id.)
The South Dakota Department of Education (“Department”) filed a motion to dismiss the
First Amended Complaint, based in part on Eleventh Amendment immunity. 	(Docs. 19, 20.)
Then, Plaintiffs filed a motion to amend. (Doc. 24.) The proposed Second Amended Complaint
struck the South Dakota Department of Education from the caption and added “Unknown Staff”
at the Department “in their individual and official capacity.” (Doc. 24-1.) It also added a new
allegation that “Upon information and belief, the South Dakota Department of Education, Rapid
City Area School District, and Rapid City School Board were put on notice of the abusive and
discriminatory policies in place at Knollwood Elementary School prior to the events that gave
rise to this lawsuit, but failed to take corrective action.” 	(Doc. 24-1, 	73.) 	The Department
urged the Court to deny leave to file the Second Amended Complaint, but the Court exercised its
discretion to allow the amendment. (Doc. 44.) The Department’s motion to dismiss was denied
as moot. (Id.)
Before the Court ruled on Plaintiffs’ motion to amend the First Amended Complaint, the
Rapid City Area School District Defendants (“RCASD”) filed a motion to dismiss the First
Amended Complaint, arguing that it was untimely and barred by the IDEA’s 90-day time period
to file a civil action challenging an adverse administrative decision on the IDEA claim. (Docs.
35, 36.) 	RCASD also moved the Court to take judicial notice of Plaintiffs’ administrative
complaint filed with the Department of Education, as well as the final decision issued by the
Department in the administrative proceedings. 	(Doc. 37.) At the time of RCASD’s motion to
dismiss, Plaintiffs were represented by counsel, and a brief with legal authority opposing
RCASD’s motion to dismiss was submitted. (Doc. 39.)
Shortly thereafter, Plaintiffs filed a notice of termination of their lawyers. 	(Doc. 40).
Then, Plaintiffs’ lawyers moved to withdraw as counsel of record due to “an irreversible
1
Plaintiffs’ First Amended Complaint was filed as a matter of course within 21 days after serving the original complaint.
See Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(1)(A).
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breakdown of the relationship between counsel and the Plaintiffs.” 	(Doc. 41.) 	The motion to
withdraw was granted on August 10, 2022. (Doc. 47.)
The 	Second 	Amended 	Complaint 	was 	filed 	on 	November 	16, 	2022. 	(Doc. 	53.)
Defendants, Unknown Staff at South Dakota Department of Education (“Department”), filed a
motion to dismiss the Second Amended Complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction
pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1), or for failure to state a claim pursuant to
Rule 12(b)(6). 	(Doc. 56.) 	Department’s first argument in support of dismissal is identical to
RCASD’s argument: that the claims in Plaintiffs’ lawsuit are untimely and barred by the IDEA’s
90-day time period to file a civil action challenging an adverse administrative decision on an
IDEA claim. (Doc. 57.) Department also asked the Court to take judicial notice of the existence
of the final decision issued by the Department of Education in the administrative proceedings.
(Doc. 58.)
In response to the Department’s motion to dismiss the Second Amended Complaint,
Plaintiffs, proceeding pro se, filed a short motion asking the Court not to dismiss this case, but
they cited no legal authority. (Doc. 60.) Plaintiffs also have requested assistance from the Court
to obtain an “as-litem.” (Doc. 50.)
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
In their opposition to RCASD’s motion to dismiss, at a time when Plaintiffs were
represented by counsel, Plaintiffs summarized the factual allegations in their Complaint:
At the time of the events that underly this lawsuit, B.M. was an 8-year-old
boy who was 4’ tall and weighed 65 lbs. (Id. at ¶ 27.) B.M. is diagnosed with
Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Insomnia, and restless leg syndrome by Dr.
April Levin of the Autism Spectrum Center/Department of Neurology of Boston
Children’s Hospital, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Id. at ¶ 28.) B.M. was in a third-
grade student at Knollwood Elementary School in Rapid City, South Dakota (the
school and all staff associated with Knollwood will be collectively herein referred
to as “Knollwood”). (Id. at ¶ 29.) B.M had an Individualized Education Plan
(“IEP”) developed to accommodate his disabilities. (Id. at ¶¶ 34 and 39.) The IEP
addressed specific areas of learning and non-learning, which B.M. required
additional attention or help. (Id. at ¶¶ 35-37.) The IEP did not include permissive
use of any method of restraint or seclusion. (Id.) Knollwood was acutely aware of
the specific indicia of B.M.’s IEP. (Id. at ¶ 39.)
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On September 4, 2019, B.M. was excited to get into Knollwood and begin
school and attempted to enter Knollwood before the rest of his class. (Id. at ¶ 43.)
Becky Leeds (“Leeds”), who was part of the staff at Knollwood, tackled,
assaulted, and restrained B.M. (Id.) Later that day, B.M. attempted to leave
Knollwood before school was over for the day. (Id. at ¶ 45.) While attempting to
leave, B.M. was assaulted and restrained by Hollie Hoffman (“Hoffman”),
Charlie 	Sersen 	(“Sersen”), 	Karn 	Baker 	(“Baker”), 	and 	Brooke 	Cheney
(“Cheney”). (Id.)
Following the September 4, 2019, assault and restraint of B.M., on
September 5, 2019, Knollwood held an IEP meeting to address a new behavioral
intervention plan (“BIP”) for B.M. (Id. at ¶ 48.) Within the BIP plan, restraint
methods were allowed, but “only as a last resort.” (Id. at ¶ 49.) The BIP did not
describe what restraint methods could or should be use or when they could be
used. (Id. at ¶ 50.) The BIP did not allow for any permissive use of methods of
seclusion. (Id. at ¶ 51.) In the event B.M. was restrained for any reason, B.M.’s
parents, Dwayne Milne and Jaclynn Paul, would be contacted immediately. (Id. at
¶ 52.)
Within Knollwood, there was an area used for de-escalation and seclusion
colloquially referred to as “Hawaii.” (Id. at ¶ 53.) “Hawaii” was located in the
corner of an empty classroom and resembled a cattle pen. (Id. at ¶¶ 54- 55.)
“Hawaii” was walled off by three five-foot-high dividers. (Id. at ¶ 55.) B.M.’s IEP
did not allow for permissive use of seclusion in “Hawaii” for any reason. (Id. at
¶¶ 32-34.)
Following the September 5, 2019, IEP meeting, B.M. was assaulted,
caged, and secluded on numerous occasions:
• On September 13, 2019, Jamie Mutter (“Mutter”) and Baker assaulted,
caged, and secluded B.M. in “Hawaii” for 34 minutes (Id. at ¶¶ 57-59);
• On September 24, 2019, Mutter and Sersen assaulted, caged, and
secluded B.M. in “Hawaii” on two separate occasions, for 20 and 25 minutes,
respectively (Id. at ¶ 60-63);
• On September 25, 2019, Mutter, Sersen, and Cheney assaulted, caged,
and secluded B.M. in “Hawaii” for 24 minutes (Id. at ¶ 64);
• On September 30, 2019, Sersen, Cheney, Mutter, and Leah Ludwig
(“Ludwig”) assaulted, caged, and secluded B.M. in “Hawaii” on two separate
occasions for 13 and 25 minutes, respectively (Id. at ¶ 65);
• On October 3, 2019, Mutter, Hoffman, Ludwig, Sersen, Baker, and
Jessica Cullum (“Cullum”) assaulted, caged, and secluded B.M. in “Hawaii” on
two separate occasions for 20 and 10 minutes, respectively (Id. at ¶ 66); and,
• On October 4, 2019, Mutter, Sersen, and Baker assaulted, caged, and
secluded B.M. in “Hawaii” for 20 minutes. (Id. at ¶ 67.)
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At no point following the September 5, 2019, IEP meeting were Dwayne Milne
and Jaclynn Paul notified of any of the abusive events their child endured. (Id. at
¶ 72.)
On October 4, 2019, Dwayne Milne went to Knollwood to pick up B.M.
(Id. at ¶ 68.) Upon entering and searching Knollwood for B.M., Dwayne Milne
found B.M. caged and secluded in “Hawaii.” (Id.) B.M. was distraught and curled
up on the floor of the makeshift animal pen crying. (Id.)
On October 7, 2019, Mutter, Sersen, and Cullum assaulted caged, and
secluded B.M. in “Hawaii for 20 minutes. (Id. at ¶ 69.) On the same day, Jaclynn
Paul went to Knollwood to drop off some items B.M. had forgotten. (Id. at ¶ 70.)
After entering and searching Knollwood for B.M., Jaclynn Paul found B.M. caged
and secluded in “Hawaii.” (Id.) On the same day, Dwayne Milne and Jaclynn Paul
immediately removed B.M. from enrollment at Knollwood. (Id. at ¶ 71.)
(Doc. 23, pp. 3–6.)
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS
On December 5, 2019, Plaintiffs filed an IDEA complaint against the Rapid City
Area School District (“School District”) with the South Dakota Department of Education,
Special Education Programs. In their administrative complaint, Plaintiffs alleged that the
School District inappropriately secluded B.M., failed to follow B.M.’s IEP or have a
positive behavior plan, and failed to communicate with B.M.’s parents. 	In response to
the section of the complaint entitled “What would you like to see changed?,” Plaintiffs
wrote:
I would like to see proper training for the teachers and paras.
I would like to see B’s goals met.
I would like to see commitment from all the teachers and paras.
I would like to see a Positive Behavior Plan written by the IEP team, which
includes my wife and I, that would be implemented by every individual that
works with B.
(Doc. 37-1.) A final decision was issued by the Department of Education on February 3,
2020, finding violations of the IDEA by the School District that resulted in denial of a
FAPE for B.M., and requiring the School District to take a number of corrective actions.
(Doc. 37-2.) 	In their initial Complaint filed in this Court, Plaintiffs described the
February 3, 2020 administrative decision: “[T]he Department of Education found, on the
basis of Dwayne Milne and Jaclynn Paul’s complaint and interviews with relevant
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parties, that Knollwood Elementary violated IDEA on multiple grounds and failed to
ensure that B.M receive a free appropriate public education.” (Doc. 1, p. 10, 	75.) There
is no indication that the School District sought review of the administrative decision
pursuant to 29 U.S.C. §1415(i)(2) which provides for a right of “[a]ny party aggrieved by
the findings and decision” of the administrative proceedings to bring a civil action in
state or federal court. 20 U.S.C. § 1415(i)(2) (emphasis added).
LEGAL ANALYSIS
Dismissal based on Statute of Limitations
The Department defendants’ motion to dismiss based on the 90-day IDEA statute
of limitations is somewhat confusing. In their motion to dismiss, the Department
defendants say that their motion to dismiss is based in part on lack of subject matter
jurisdiction pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1). (Doc. 56.) Though the
Department defendants discuss the IDEA exhaustion requirements in their memorandum,
they do not argue that Plaintiffs failed to exhaust administrative remedies. 	(Doc. 57.)
Plaintiffs pointed out that they exhausted their administrative remedies under the IDEA
(Doc. 23, p. 15 n.2), and the Department defendants do not argue otherwise. In fact, they
admit that Plaintiffs’ IDEA complaint resulted in a final decision. 	(Doc. 57, p. 8.) 	It
appears the Department defendants are confusing lack of subject matter jurisdiction for
failure to exhaust administrative remedies with a statute of limitations defense.
It is Rule 12(b)(6) that allows a court to dismiss a complaint as barred by the
statute of limitations “if the complaint itself established that the claim is time-barred.”
Richardson v. Omaha School District, 957 F.3d 869, 873 (8th Cir. 2020) (quoting
Humphrey v. Eureka Gardens Pub. Facility Bd., 891 F.3d 1079, 1081 (8th Cir. 2018)).
The RCASD defendants state that their motion to dismiss based on the statute of
limitations is brought pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6).2 (Doc. 35.) 	They also admit that
Plaintiffs’ IDEA complaint resulted in an administrative final decision. (Doc. 36, p. 13.)
2
In their memorandum, the RCASD defendants also mention the Rule 12(b)(1) standard and discuss IDEA
exhaustion requirements, but they do not argue that Plaintiffs have failed to exhaust administrative
remedies. (Doc. 36.)
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Because Defendants’ arguments are based on the IDEA statute of limitations and
not on the IDEA’s exhaustion requirement, the Court will analyze Defendants’ motions
to dismiss based on the statute of limitations under Rule 12(b)(6) rather than for lack of
subject matter jurisdiction under Rule 12(b)(1).
As an initial matter, the Court will address both Defendants’ motions to take
judicial 	notice. 	RCASD 	defendants 	ask 	the 	Court 	to 	take 	judicial 	notice 	of 	the
administrative complaint filed by Plaintiffs and the administrative decision. 	(Doc. 37.)
Department defendants also ask the Court to take judicial notice of the administrative
decision. 	(Doc. 58.) 	Plaintiffs did not object to the requests for judicial notice. 	The
Eighth Circuit has found underlying administrative records to be public records that a
district court may consider on a motion to dismiss. 	Stahl v. U.S. Dep’t of Agric., 327
F.3d 697, 700 (8th Cir. 2003). The fact of the administrative proceedings and the nature
of the claims asserted and decided are relevant to Defendants’ argument that the 90-day
statute of limitations in the IDEA applies to bar Plaintiffs’ claims in this lawsuit, and the
Court will take judicial notice of the administrative complaint and decision. See Crooks
v. Lynch, 557 F.3d 846, 848 (8th Cir. 2009) (taking judicial notice of state administrative
commission decision and appeal).
Defendants contend that Plaintiffs’ non-IDEA claims are time-barred by the 90-
day statute of limitations under the IDEA because they believe that the gravamen of
Plaintiffs’ lawsuit is an IDEA claim for denial of a FAPE. 	The Supreme Court and the
Eighth Circuit have examined the gravamen of the complaint in cases where a plaintiff
failed to exhaust 	administrative remedies under the IDEA. See Fry v. Napoleon
Community Schools, 580 U.S. 154, 137 S.Ct. 743 (2017) (developing “gravamen of
complaint” test and remanding for a determination whether dismissal of case was
appropriate for failure to exhaust administrative remedies); J.M. v. Francis Howell Sch.
Dist., 850 F.3d 944 (8th Cir. 2017) (applying Fry analysis and holding that dismissal for
failure to exhaust was appropriate because gravamen of complaint was IDEA claim).
However, the issue in this case is not whether Plaintiffs failed to exhaust administrative
remedies. Plaintiffs exhausted, so Fry and J.M. are not pertinent.
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The RCASD defendants cite Smith v. Rockwood R-VI Sch. Dist., 895 F.3d 566
(8th Cir. 2018). There, the Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court’s decision to dismiss
the complaint for failure to exhaust administrative remedies under the IDEA. The Eighth
Circuit, applying the Fry analysis, found that the “gravamen of the complaint is the
denial of public education,” and thus the plaintiffs needed to follow the IDEA’s
exhaustion requirements. Id. at 569. Instead of obtaining a final administrative decision,
the plaintiffs in Smith “privately resolved the case” and “voluntarily dismissed the due
process complaint.” 	Id. at 567. 	As in J.M., the Eighth Circuit in Smith analyzed the
gravamen of the complaint because the plaintiffs failed to exhaust administrative
remedies under the IDEA before bringing their lawsuit in federal court alleging claims
under the Rehab Act and § 1983. 	The Eighth Circuit emphasized the importance of
obtaining 	the 	“benefit 	of 	the 	administrative 	agency’s 	expertise” 	regarding 	issues
concerning the provision of a FAPE to a disabled child prior to pursuing other causes of
action. Id. at 570. In the present case, Plaintiffs exhausted their administrative remedies
and received the benefit of the administrative agency’s expertise. The final administrative
decision lays out the reasons for finding B.M. was denied a FAPE, and it sets forth the
corrective actions to be taken by the RCASD. Accordingly, Smith is inapplicable in this
case.
Here, the issue is whether the IDEA statute of limitations applies to bar Plaintiffs’
claims as untimely. 	Defendants have provided no authority for the proposition that the
Fry analysis of the gravamen of the complaint applies when a plaintiff has exhausted
administrative remedies. 	In fact, Defendants acknowledge that the Eighth Circuit has
never held that a court should examine the gravamen of the complaint in order to decide
if the 90-day statute of limitation found in the IDEA applies to non-IDEA claims. (Doc.
36, p. 14; Doc. 57, p. 9.) 	Defendants cite three out-of-circuit cases, all decided before
Fry, ostensibly supporting their argument that the 90-day IDEA statute of limitations
applies here if the gravamen of Plaintiffs’ complaint is failure to provide a FAPE. See
Blunt v. Lower Merion Sch. Dist., 767 F.3d 247 (3d Cir. 2014); Mr. & Mrs. D. v.
Southington Bd. of Educ., 119 F. Supp. 2d 105, 115–16 (D. Conn. 2000); I.M. v.
Northampton Pub. Sch., 869 F. Supp. 2d 174, 187 (D. Mass. 2012). Those non-binding
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and factually distinguishable cases are not helpful, and they do not alter the Court’s
interpretation and analysis of the statutory requirements.
In fact, Defendants incorrectly argue that the Third Circuit in Blunt affirmed the
dismissal of ADA, Rehab Act, and IDEA claims pursuant to the 90-day statute of
limitations found in IDEA’s § 1415(i)(2)(B). 	(Doc. 45, p. 4; Doc. 57, p. 10.) 	In Blunt,
the district court applied Pennsylvania’s two-year statute of limitations for personal
injury actions to the plaintiffs’ ADA, Rehab Act, Title VII, and § 1983 claims. 	Id. at
291. The district court concluded that those claims were time-barred because they were
filed more than two years after the alleged injuries. Id. The plaintiffs did not challenge
that conclusion on appeal before the Third Circuit. Id. Therefore, the issue in Blunt was
whether the IDEA 90-day statute of limitations barred the plaintiffs’ IDEA claims. 	Id.
The Third Circuit concluded that the plaintiffs had plenty of time to become aware that
the IDEA statute of limitations had changed to 90 days, and thus their IDEA claim in
federal court was untimely because it was not filed within the 90-day time frame. Id. at
292.
Simply put, Defendants have not presented any strong or binding legal authority
for the proposition that this Court should examine the gravamen of Plaintiffs’ complaint
to determine if the IDEA 90-day statute of limitations should apply to bar Plaintiffs’ non-
IDEA claims as untimely.
Furthermore, Defendants do not explain why the 90-day statute of limitations for
an aggrieved party to bring a civil action in state or federal court would apply in this case
where the Plaintiffs are not the aggrieved party. 	The IDEA statute provides that,
following a due process hearing, “any party aggrieved by the findings and decision made
under this subsection, shall have the right to bring a civil action with respect to the
complaint presented pursuant to this section. . . .” 20 U.S.C. § 1415(i)(2)(A). 	The
aggrieved party has 90 days from the date of the administrative decision to bring the civil
action. 20 U.S.C. § 1415(i)(2)(B). Plaintiffs received a favorable decision and were not
the party aggrieved by the findings or decision of the Department of Education,
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so § 1415(i)(2) does not apply. 3 See, e.g., B.D. v. District of Columbia, 817 F.3d 792,
801 (D.C. Cir. 2016) (“One who wins before a hearing officer is not ‘aggrieved’ by the
hearing officer’s decision.”).
Finally, Defendants make a policy argument in favor of applying the IDEA’s 90-
day statute of limitations to bar Plaintiffs’ non-IDEA claims. 	Defendants’ policy
argument misses the mark. 	The Eighth Circuit has noted that federal policy requires
“expeditious resolution of IDEA concerns.” 	Strawn v. Missouri State Bd. of Educ., 210
F.3d 954, 957 (8th Cir. 2000). 	But the reason for quick resolution is to prevent the
“substantial harm” of lost education on the part of students. Id.; see also Fry, 137 S.Ct.
at 753–54 (noting that the IDEA’s administrative procedures are primarily concerned
with determining whether a school has met its obligation to provide disabled students
with a FAPE). The policy behind quick resolution of a student’s IDEA concerns does not
equate to a policy of barring a student’s non-IDEA claims as untimely based on the
IDEA statute of limitations.
For all of these reasons, Defendants’ motions to dismiss based on the statute of
limitations are denied.
Dismissal for Failure to State a Claim under Rule 12(b)(6)
In ruling on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, the factual allegations of a
complaint are assumed true and construed in favor of the plaintiff, “even if it strikes a
savvy judge that actual proof of those facts is improbable, and that a recovery is very
remote and unlikely.” See Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 556 (2007) (internal
quotations omitted). 	“While a complaint attacked by a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss
does not need detailed factual allegations, a plaintiff’s obligation to provide the ‘grounds’
3
Department defendants cite Cease v. Henry, et. al., 5:22‐CV‐05015‐RAL, Doc. 41, Opinion and Order on
Pending Motions and Granting Motions to Dismiss, arguing that the same reasoning applies here and that this
case should also be dismissed. (Doc. 57, pp 10‐11.) Defendants ignore a vital difference between this case
and Cease. In Cease, the plaintiffs received an adverse administrative ruling denying their claims. (Doc. 41,
pp. 2, 9.) Judge Lange noted that the Ceases, as persons aggrieved by a denial of their administrative
complaint, had 90 days to bring a civil action under 20 U.S.C. §1415(i)(2). (Doc. 41, pp. 13, 21.) The Ceases
did not file the civil action within 90 days as required by the statute. Here, Plaintiffs were not the aggrieved
party, so the 90‐day time period to file a civil action in § 1415(i)(2) does not apply.
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of his ‘entitle[ment] to relief’ requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic
recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.” Id. at 555 (internal citations
omitted). The complaint must allege facts, which, when taken as true, raise more than a
speculative right to relief. Id.; Benton v. Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., 524 F.3d 866, 870
(8th Cir. 2008). 	“[W]here the well-pleaded facts do not permit the court to infer more
than the mere possibility of misconduct, the complaint has alleged—but has not
‘show[n]’—‘that the pleader is entitled to relief.’ ” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 679
(2009) (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2)). 	“Determining whether a complaint states a
plausible claim for relief is a context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to
draw on its judicial experience and common sense.” Id. (citation omitted).
Department argues that it is entitled to dismissal of the Plaintiffs’ ADA and
Rehab Act claims pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) because the “bare bones” general allegations
in the complaint that the Department manages and controls educational affairs of South
Dakota public schools, and that the Department failed to take corrective action after
being put on notice of the “abusive and discriminatory policies in place at Knollwood
Elementary School,” are not sufficient to state a claim that is plausible on its face.4 (Doc.
57, pp. 11-12.) 	The Court concludes that Plaintiffs’ allegations against the Unknown
Staff at the South Dakota Department of Education are the archetype of a “[t]hreadbare
recital[ ] of [an] element[ ] of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory
statements,” that is insufficient to plead claims under the ADA and Rehab Act. Iqbal, 556
U.S. at 678. The ADA and Rehab claims are dismissed as to the Department Defendants.
Plaintiffs’ Pending Motions
4
The Eighth Circuit has “consistently held that ‘[w]here alleged ADA and § 504 violations are based on educational
services for disabled children, the plaintiff must prove that school officials acted in bad faith or with gross
misjudgment.’” B.M. ex rel. Miller v. S. Callaway R‐II Sch. Dist., 732 F.3d 882, 887 (8th Cir. 2013) (quoting Birmingham
v. Omaha Sch. Dist., 220 F.3d 850, 856 (8th Cir. 2000), and also citing M.Y. ex rel. J.Y. v. Special Sch. Dist. No. 1, 544 F.3d
885, 888 (8th Cir. 2008)). The Eighth Circuit also has “ ‘held that the enforcement, remedies, and rights are the same
under both Title II of the ADA and § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.’ ” Miller, 732 F.3d at 887, quoting Birmingham, 220
F.3d at 856. Because the ADA and Rehab Act are similar in substance, “cases interpreting either are applicable and
interchangeable” for analytical purposes. Bahl v. Cty of Ramsey, 695 F.3d 778, 783 (8th Cir. 2012) (internal citation
omitted)). Thus, the Court will consider Plaintiffs’ ADA and Rehab Act claims together.
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Plaintiffs have two pending motions. 	The Motion Not to Dismiss this Case will be
granted for the same reasons that the Court denies Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss. (Doc. 60.)
Plaintiffs also request assistance from the Court to obtain what they refer to as an “ad
litem.” 	(Doc. 50.) 	This could be a request for appointment of a guardian ad litem pursuant to
Fed.R.Civ. P. 17(c)(2) (providing that “[t]he court must appoint a guardian ad litem or issue
another appropriate order—to protect a minor or incompetent person who is unrepresented in an
action”). 	However, it is not clear why appointment of a guardian ad litem is necessary when
parents are the guardians of B.M. (Doc. 53, Second Amended Complaint, p. 1.) In their motion,
Plaintiffs state that there are “things” they need help with, including communicating with
Defendants’ lawyers. (Doc. 50.) 	A guardian ad litem is not a child’s lawyer, and it appears that
Plaintiffs are expressing the need for the assistance of a lawyer rather than a need for a guardian
ad litem. 	However, Plaintiffs have not requested a court-appointed lawyer, and they have not
shown that they are unable to afford the services of a lawyer.5
While parents may be entitled to bring suit in a representative capacity to redress the
alleged violations of B.M.’s legal rights, see Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c)(1)(A) (authorizing a general
guardian to sue on behalf of a minor), they cannot do so by appearing pro se. 	Although 28
U.S.C. § 1654 recognizes that an individual generally has the right to proceed pro se with respect
to his or her own claims, the statute does not permit non-lawyers to represent anyone else other
than themselves.6 Knoefler v. United Bank of Bismarck, 20 F.3d 347, 348 (8th Cir. 1994) (“A
nonlawyer . . . has no right to represent another entity . . . in a court of the United
5
The Court has the authority to appoint an attorney for a pro se litigant in a civil case ‐ ‐ 28 U.S.C. § 1915 provides that
“[t]he court may request an attorney to represent any person unable to afford counsel.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1).
However, such appointments are rare. See Peterson v. Nadler, 452 F.2d 754, 757 (8th Cir. 1971) (abrogated on other
grounds by Mallard v. U.S. Dist. Court for S. Dist. of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296 (1989)). The Eighth Circuit has explained:
“Indigent civil litigants do not have a constitutional or statutory right to appointed counsel. Davis v.
Scott, 94 F.3d 444, 447 (8th Cir. 1996) (quoting Edgington v. Mo. Dep't of Corr., 52 F.3d 777, 780 (8th
Cir. 1995)). “Rather, when an indigent [plaintiff] has pleaded a nonfrivolous cause of action, a court
‘may’ appoint counsel.” Phillips v. Jasper Cty. Jail, 437 F.3d 791, 794 (8th Cir. 2006). The authority to
do so is set forth in 28 § U.S.C. 1915(e)(1), which provides that “[t]he court may request an attorney
to represent any person unable to afford counsel.”
Crozier for A.C. v. Westside Cmty. Sch. Dist., 973 F.3d 882, 889 (8th Cir. 2020).
6
Parents are allowed to pursue their own claims without a lawyer, if they have any claims independent of B.M.’s claims.
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States.”) (citations omitted). 	This is true even when a non-lawyer seeks to represent his or her
own children. 	See Crozier, 973 F.3d at 888 (finding that district court properly ruled that non-
attorney parents could not litigate on behalf of their minor child).
Appointment of a guardian ad litem would not alter the principle in 28 U.S.C. § 1654 that
a non-lawyer is not allowed to represent another individual in federal court litigation without the
assistance of counsel. 	The motion for a guardian ad litem will be denied without prejudice in
order to allow Plaintiffs to hire legal counsel for B.M.
If Plaintiffs wish to get new counsel in this lawsuit and cannot get representation on a
contingent fee basis, then Plaintiffs must attempt to hire counsel on a fee basis. If those attempts
are not successful, then Plaintiffs may petition the Court for court appointed counsel. There are
various considerations involved for the Court to consider in determining whether or not counsel
should be appointed in a civil case. The most recent but not the only case from the United States
Court of Appeals of the Eighth Circuit discussing some of those considerations is Crozier for
A.C. v. Westside Cmty. Sch. Dist., 973 F.3d 882 (8th Cir. 2020). A copy of that decision will be
provided to Plaintiffs by the Clerk of Courts. 	If a request is made for court appointed counsel,
the Court will require a waiver by the Plaintiffs of their attorney- client privilege so that the
Court can learn from both Plaintiffs and their former counsel why their attorney-client
relationship ended. 	Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED:
1. 	Defendants’ Motions to Take Judicial Notice are granted (Doc. 37 and Doc. 58);
2. 	Defendant RCASD’s Motion to Dismiss is denied (Doc. 35);
3. 	Department Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss is denied in part and granted to the
extent that the ADA and Rehab Act claims in Counts VII and VIII are dismissed
against Department Defendants (Doc. 56);
4. 	Plaintiffs’ Motion Not to Dismiss This Case is granted (Doc. 60);
5. 	Plaintiffs’ Motion for Help Obtaining Ad-Litem is denied without prejudice to
Plaintiffs’ right to file a motion for court appointed counsel (Doc. 50); and
6. 	The Clerk of Court shall provide Plaintiffs with a copy of Crozier for A.C. v.
Westside Cmty. Sch. Dist., 973 F.3d 882 (8th Cir. 2020).
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Dated this 17th day of February, 2023.
BY THE COURT:
________________________________
Lawrence L. Piersol
United States District Judge
ATTEST
MATTHEW W. THELEN, CLERK
____________________________
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