Dellmuth v. Muth
United States Supreme Court
491 U.S. 223 (1989)
- Written by Carolyn Strutton, JD
Facts
Alex Muth was a disabled child who was entitled to special-education services under the Education of the Handicapped Act (EHA). Alex’s parents, the Muths (plaintiffs) brought an administrative appeal to challenge the local school district’s educational plan for Alex. While the administrative appeal was proceeding, the Muths brought a claim in federal district court against the district and the Pennsylvania secretary of education as a representative of the commonwealth (defendants), alleging that the district’s educational plan for Alex and Pennsylvania’s administrative procedures both violated the EHA. The district court entered summary judgment for the Muths, holding that the EHA abrogated Pennsylvania’s sovereign immunity under the Eleventh Amendment and that the district and Pennsylvania were jointly and severally liable. The decision was affirmed by the court of appeals. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari to rule on whether the EHA abrogated states’ sovereign immunity under the Eleventh Amendment.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Kennedy, J.)
Dissent (Brennan, J.)
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