Welcome to the Leigh Law Group web site.

The Leigh Law Group represents individuals, families, employees and children who have been injured by the unlawful acts of others. As attorney advocates, we provide each client with all options available to them and take only those cases that we believe have merit.

Our team of skilled attorneys deliver compassion and care to ensure quality of life for our clients while our clients are dealing with difficult issues. When Leigh Law Group acts on your behalf, we demonstrate a strong commitment to your case and are relentless in our goals for seeking remedies and justice.

Preparation is essential and our firm is prepared to take your case because of our experience, resources and knowledge of the law. Leigh Law Group specializes in the following areas:

Special Education on behalf of parents and children
General Education matters
Higher Education matters
Employee Rights in public and private sector
Disability Rights
General Civil Litigation

We pride ourselves in keeping our clients informed of the status of their case and our team is prepared to promote and protect the rights of our clients.

Leigh Law Group Special Event:
Resolving Conflicts that Arise in the IEP Process.

The Leigh Law Group is hosting a presentation and discussion session for parents, educators, and providers of children with special needs.

Get your questions answered on these important topics: appropriate ways on assessing what your child needs in his/her IEP, how to address these needs at the IEP meeting, when to hire a provider or expert to help you advocate at the IEP meeting, a review of the major components of the IEP, relevant legal updates, and much more.

Speakers:

Mandy Leigh, Esq.
Jessica Cochran, Esq.
Sarah Fairchild, Esq.

For bios on these speakers visit http://www.leighlawgroup.com

Date: Friday, June 6, 2008
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Location: 870 Market Street, Ste 1185 (11th Floor Conference Room)
San Francisco, CA 94102

Cost: $10 per person -
Registration is not complete until payment is received.

To register and RSVP for this event, please email to help@leighlawgroup.com or call the Leigh Law Group at 415-399-9155.

Please come early to sign in. Seating is limited to 25 people and this event is first come first served. Drinks and snacks will be provided.

Click here register via the
PDF Reservation Form.

News

Help Parents Recover Expert Witness Fees and Level the Playing Field!
Call your Congressional Rep. on Tuesday May 6!
202-224-3121 (TTY 202-225-1904)

PLEASE CALL YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES ON Tuesday, MAY 6, AND ASK THEM TO CO-SPONSOR THE IDEA FAIRNESS RESTORATION ACT, H.R. 4188. This bill will allow parents who prevail in IDEA cases recover their expert witness fees. Few parents can afford the thousands of dollars needed to pay for expert testimony. H.R. 4188, introduced by Congressman Chris Van Hollen ( Maryland ) and Pete Sessions ( Texas ), will restore Congress' original intent, and enable parents to recover these fees.

Congress has always intended for parents to recover their expert witness fees in the Handicapped Children's Protection Act of 1986. But the Supreme Court in Arlington Central School District v. Murphy (2006) held that the law was not explicit enough and parents could not recover their expert fees. Passing the IDEA Fairness Restoration Act is necessary to restore Congress' original intent and allow parents to recover fees. The bill has 20 cosponsors, but more are needed to show the strong support for the bill. Please call your Congressional Representatives on Tuesday, May 6 at 202-224-3121 (TTY 202-225-1904) and ask them to cosponsor the bill. Let Congress hear from as many of us as possible! Ask your friends and family members to call, too. It only takes 2 minutes.

The IDEA Fairness Restoration Act is important to protect the rights of children with disabilities.

* When prevailing parents cannot recover expert costs, the playing field is neither level nor fair, and children are denied a free appropriate public education and other fundamental IDEA rights. The IDEA Fairness Restoration Act would enable parents who prevail in due process or litigation to recover their expert witness fees, helping to level the playing field.

* Hiring qualified medical, technical, and other expert witnesses can cost many thousands of dollars. Few parents can afford this high cost, putting due process out of reach for most parents, who struggle to afford what their children with disabilities need.

* School districts use tax dollars to employ and pay for psychologists and other paid experts at IEP meetings and hearings. Parents have fewer resources and yet must bear a greater financial burden. Approximately 36% of children with disabilities live in families earning less than $25,000 a year; over 2/3 earn less than $50,000 a year.

* Congress intended for parents to recover their expert witness fees in the Handicapped Children's Protection Act of 1986. H.R. 4188 will restore Congress' original intent.

* If parents cannot afford due process, the IEP process becomes even more one-sided and unfair. School personnel control the IEP process and usually outnumber parents. The right to due process helps ensure that school districts provide free appropriate public educations to children with disabilities.

* Most parents turn to due process and litigation as a last resort. In 2003, the GAO reported that there were 5 due process hearings per 10,000 special education students. When parents are forced to request due process, they need expert witnesses to prevail.

Call to Action - Tuesday, May 6, 2008

On Tuesday, May 6, 2008 , please call your Congressional Representatives and ask them to cosponsor H.R. 4188, the IDEA Fairness Restoration Act. Have friends and family members call. Dial 202-224-3121 (TTY 202-225-1904). Ask for your Congressperson's office. You can then ask for the Education Aide or simply speak to the person who answer the phone. Ask that the Congressman/Congresswoman cosponsor H.R. 4188 and enable parents to recover their expert witness fees in special education cases. You can use some of the talking points above if you wish. If you reach voicemail, you can leave a detailed message.

To find your Congressional Representative, go to http://www.house.gov and put your zip code into the box in the upper left corner. (You usually only need your five digit zip code.) You use the 202-224-3121 main number for Congress or look up direct dial numbers on their webpage through www.house.gov. PLEASE CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES INSTEAD OF USING EMAIL. Many calls will attract attention to our cause. But if it is impossible for you to call, then please email through http://www.house.gov/writerep We know that there are folks will not be able to call or use TTY but who support our cause and we encourage you to contact Congress, too.

H.R. 4188 is sponsored by 20 representatives, but more cosponsors are needed to help build support for the bill. Please call your Congressperson on May 6 and ask them to join the list of co-sponsors. The following are already sponsors: Neil Abercrombie (HI), Richard Baker (LA), Earl Blumenauer (OR), Ginny Brown-Waite (FL), Dan Burton (IN), Steve Cohen (TN), Danny Davis (IL), Peter DeFazio (OR), Charles Gonzalez (TX), Michael Honda (CA), Ray LaHood (IL), Zoe Lofgren (CA), James Moran (VA), Grace Napolitano (CA), Donald Payne (NJ), Janice Schakowsky (IL), Pete Sessions (TX), Pete Stark (CA), Chris Van Hollen (MD), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL). We thank them for their support! Let's add more!

Want more detailed information?
Download COPAA's complete brochure on the IDEA Fairness Restoration Act with full talking points, http://www.copaa.org/pdf /MurphyBrochure.pdf
There is also a Spanish language version, http://www.copaa.org/pdf/MSSpanish.pdf
(Lea aqui en Espanol: Murphy y los derechos de los padres para recuperar el costo de los expertos: http://www.copaa.org/pdf/MSSpanish.pdf )
You can read H.R. 4188 here: http://www.copaa.org/news /IRFAct.html
You can read letters from over 100 disability organizations which support H.R. 4188 here:
http://www.copaa.org/news /organizations.html

Feel free to forward this message!

For more information on this alert and the IDEA Fairness Restoration Act, pleasecontact Bob Berlow and Jessica Butler of COPAA at protectidea@copaa.org

Thank you,
Bob Berlow and Jessica Butler
Council of Parent Attorneys & Advocates, Inc.
Government Affairs Co-Chairs

protectidea@copaa.org
www.copaa.org

Special Events

Speakers:

Mandy Leigh, Esq.
Jessica Cochran, Esq.
Sarah Fairchild, Esq.


Home	Education Law Special Education General Education Higher Education	Employment Law Private Sector Employment Public Employees	Disability Rights Accommodation & Discrimination Benefits Issues	About Us Attorneys Mandy Leigh Sarah Fairchild Jessica Cochran Useful Resources Contact Us
The Leigh Law Group represents individuals, families, employees and children who have been injured by the unlawful acts of others. As attorney advocates, we provide each client with all options available to them and take only those cases that we believe have merit. Our team of skilled attorneys deliver compassion and care to ensure quality of life for our clients while our clients are dealing with difficult issues. When Leigh Law Group acts on your behalf, we demonstrate a strong commitment to your case and are relentless in our goals for seeking remedies and justice. Preparation is essential and our firm is prepared to take your case because of our experience, resources and knowledge of the law. Leigh Law Group specializes in the following areas: Special Education on behalf of parents and children General Education matters Higher Education matters Employee Rights in public and private sector Disability Rights General Civil Litigation We pride ourselves in keeping our clients informed of the status of their case and our team is prepared to promote and protect the rights of our clients. Leigh Law Group Special Event: Resolving Conflicts that Arise in the IEP Process. The Leigh Law Group is hosting a presentation and discussion session for parents, educators, and providers of children with special needs. Get your questions answered on these important topics: appropriate ways on assessing what your child needs in his/her IEP, how to address these needs at the IEP meeting, when to hire a provider or expert to help you advocate at the IEP meeting, a review of the major components of the IEP, relevant legal updates, and much more. Speakers: Mandy Leigh, Esq. Jessica Cochran, Esq. Sarah Fairchild, Esq. For bios on these speakers visit http://www.leighlawgroup.com Date: Friday, June 6, 2008 Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Location: 870 Market Street, Ste 1185 (11th Floor Conference Room) San Francisco, CA 94102 Cost: $10 per person - Registration is not complete until payment is received. To register and RSVP for this event, please email to help@leighlawgroup.com or call the Leigh Law Group at 415-399-9155. Please come early to sign in. Seating is limited to 25 people and this event is first come first served. Drinks and snacks will be provided. Click here register via the PDF Reservation Form.				News Help Parents Recover Expert Witness Fees and Level the Playing Field! Call your Congressional Rep. on Tuesday May 6! 202-224-3121 (TTY 202-225-1904) PLEASE CALL YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES ON Tuesday, MAY 6, AND ASK THEM TO CO-SPONSOR THE IDEA FAIRNESS RESTORATION ACT, H.R. 4188. This bill will allow parents who prevail in IDEA cases recover their expert witness fees. Few parents can afford the thousands of dollars needed to pay for expert testimony. H.R. 4188, introduced by Congressman Chris Van Hollen ( Maryland ) and Pete Sessions ( Texas ), will restore Congress' original intent, and enable parents to recover these fees. Congress has always intended for parents to recover their expert witness fees in the Handicapped Children's Protection Act of 1986. But the Supreme Court in Arlington Central School District v. Murphy (2006) held that the law was not explicit enough and parents could not recover their expert fees. Passing the IDEA Fairness Restoration Act is necessary to restore Congress' original intent and allow parents to recover fees. The bill has 20 cosponsors, but more are needed to show the strong support for the bill. Please call your Congressional Representatives on Tuesday, May 6 at 202-224-3121 (TTY 202-225-1904) and ask them to cosponsor the bill. Let Congress hear from as many of us as possible! Ask your friends and family members to call, too. It only takes 2 minutes. The IDEA Fairness Restoration Act is important to protect the rights of children with disabilities. * When prevailing parents cannot recover expert costs, the playing field is neither level nor fair, and children are denied a free appropriate public education and other fundamental IDEA rights. The IDEA Fairness Restoration Act would enable parents who prevail in due process or litigation to recover their expert witness fees, helping to level the playing field. * Hiring qualified medical, technical, and other expert witnesses can cost many thousands of dollars. Few parents can afford this high cost, putting due process out of reach for most parents, who struggle to afford what their children with disabilities need. * School districts use tax dollars to employ and pay for psychologists and other paid experts at IEP meetings and hearings. Parents have fewer resources and yet must bear a greater financial burden. Approximately 36% of children with disabilities live in families earning less than $25,000 a year; over 2/3 earn less than $50,000 a year. * Congress intended for parents to recover their expert witness fees in the Handicapped Children's Protection Act of 1986. H.R. 4188 will restore Congress' original intent. * If parents cannot afford due process, the IEP process becomes even more one-sided and unfair. School personnel control the IEP process and usually outnumber parents. The right to due process helps ensure that school districts provide free appropriate public educations to children with disabilities. * Most parents turn to due process and litigation as a last resort. In 2003, the GAO reported that there were 5 due process hearings per 10,000 special education students. When parents are forced to request due process, they need expert witnesses to prevail. Call to Action - Tuesday, May 6, 2008 On Tuesday, May 6, 2008 , please call your Congressional Representatives and ask them to cosponsor H.R. 4188, the IDEA Fairness Restoration Act. Have friends and family members call. Dial 202-224-3121 (TTY 202-225-1904). Ask for your Congressperson's office. You can then ask for the Education Aide or simply speak to the person who answer the phone. Ask that the Congressman/Congresswoman cosponsor H.R. 4188 and enable parents to recover their expert witness fees in special education cases. You can use some of the talking points above if you wish. If you reach voicemail, you can leave a detailed message. To find your Congressional Representative, go to http://www.house.gov and put your zip code into the box in the upper left corner. (You usually only need your five digit zip code.) You use the 202-224-3121 main number for Congress or look up direct dial numbers on their webpage through www.house.gov. PLEASE CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES INSTEAD OF USING EMAIL. Many calls will attract attention to our cause. But if it is impossible for you to call, then please email through http://www.house.gov/writerep We know that there are folks will not be able to call or use TTY but who support our cause and we encourage you to contact Congress, too. H.R. 4188 is sponsored by 20 representatives, but more cosponsors are needed to help build support for the bill. Please call your Congressperson on May 6 and ask them to join the list of co-sponsors. The following are already sponsors: Neil Abercrombie (HI), Richard Baker (LA), Earl Blumenauer (OR), Ginny Brown-Waite (FL), Dan Burton (IN), Steve Cohen (TN), Danny Davis (IL), Peter DeFazio (OR), Charles Gonzalez (TX), Michael Honda (CA), Ray LaHood (IL), Zoe Lofgren (CA), James Moran (VA), Grace Napolitano (CA), Donald Payne (NJ), Janice Schakowsky (IL), Pete Sessions (TX), Pete Stark (CA), Chris Van Hollen (MD), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL). We thank them for their support! Let's add more! Want more detailed information? Download COPAA's complete brochure on the IDEA Fairness Restoration Act with full talking points, http://www.copaa.org/pdf /MurphyBrochure.pdf There is also a Spanish language version, http://www.copaa.org/pdf/MSSpanish.pdf (Lea aqui en Espanol: Murphy y los derechos de los padres para recuperar el costo de los expertos: http://www.copaa.org/pdf/MSSpanish.pdf ) You can read H.R. 4188 here: http://www.copaa.org/news /IRFAct.html You can read letters from over 100 disability organizations which support H.R. 4188 here: http://www.copaa.org/news /organizations.html Feel free to forward this message! For more information on this alert and the IDEA Fairness Restoration Act, pleasecontact Bob Berlow and Jessica Butler of COPAA at protectidea@copaa.org Thank you, Bob Berlow and Jessica Butler Council of Parent Attorneys & Advocates, Inc. Government Affairs Co-Chairs protectidea@copaa.org www.copaa.org Special Events Leigh Law Group Special Event: Resolving Conflicts that Arise in the IEP Process. The Leigh Law Group is hosting a presentation and discussion session for parents, educators, and providers of children with special needs. Get your questions answered on these important topics: appropriate ways on assessing what your child needs in his/her IEP, how to address these needs at the IEP meeting, when to hire a provider or expert to help you advocate at the IEP meeting, a review of the major components of the IEP, relevant legal updates, and much more. Speakers: Mandy Leigh, Esq. Jessica Cochran, Esq. Sarah Fairchild, Esq. For bios on these speakers visit http://www.leighlawgroup.com Date: Friday, June 6, 2008 Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Location: 870 Market Street, Ste 1185 (11th Floor Conference Room) San Francisco, CA 94102 Cost: $10 per person - Registration is not complete until payment is received. To register and RSVP for this event, please email to help@leighlawgroup.com or call the Leigh Law Group at 415-399-9155. Please come early to sign in. Seating is limited to 25 people and this event is first come first served. Drinks and snacks will be provided. Click here register via the PDF Reservation Form.

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