ADMINISTRATIVE LAW, EDUCATION LAW
Forest Grove Sch. Dist. v. T.A., No. 08–305
In an action challenging a hearing officer's order reimbursing fees paid by Plaintiff's parents for his special education program under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA), the award is affirmed where IDEA authorizes reimbursement for private special-education services when a public school fails to provide a free appropriate public education and the private-school placement is appropriate, regardless of whether the child previously received special-education services through the public school.
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW, ENVIRONMENTAL LAW, WATER LAW
Coeur Alaska, Inc. v. Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, No. 07–984
In an action against the Army Corps of Engineers challenging the Corps' grant of a permit to a mining company to discharge waste materials, summary judgment for Defendant is affirmed where the Corps, not the EPA, had the authority to permit the discharge, and the Corps' interpretation of Clean Water Act regulations was entitled to deference.
CIVIL RIGHTS, ELECTIONS, GOVERNMENT LAW
Northwest Austin Mun. Utility Dist. No. 1. v. Holder, No. 08–322
In an action seeking relief under the "bailout" provision in Section 4(a) of the Voting Rights Act, which allows a "political subdivision" to be released from the preclearance requirements if certain conditions are met, the dismissal of the complaint is reversed where the Act must be interpreted to permit all political subdivisions, including Plaintiff district, to seek to bail out from the preclearance requirements.