Woodside v. School District of Philadelphia Board of Education

OPINION OF THE COURT

KRAVITCH, Circuit Judge:

I

This case presents an issue of first impression in this Circuit: whether a parent who is an attorney can receive attorney fees for representing his minor child in administrative proceedings under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et. seq. (“IDEA”).

II

The plaintiff, J. Stephen Woodside (“Woodside”), is a licensed Pennsylvania attorney. Woodside’s son, Robert Henry Woodside (“Henry”), born on January 28, 1993, has a chromosomal disorder, Kline-felter Syndrome, which causes speech and language delays, motor planning…