Tim Adams (JD '00) Obtains Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Ruling in Favor of Client

Pepperdine Caruso Law alumnus Tim Adams (JD '00) successfully obtained a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in favor of his client. Adams represented a family throughout a prolonged legal dispute against the Irvine Unified School District. Reflecting on the case, Adams commented on the extensive litigation initiated by the district against the family, stating, "Never in my career have I seen so much litigation by a district against one family." 

The legal battle stretched over a period of five years, involving appeals to various levels of the judicial system. The case, emblematic of the growing number of high-stakes legal conflicts surrounding special education nationwide, sheds light on the complexities and challenges faced by families navigating the educational system.  The Ninth Circuit issued a ruling the day after Christmas upholding the family’s initial win. The court also said Adams’s fees should be paid by Irvine Unified. The district’s bills, from labor and employment law firm Littler Mendelson, have reached $1.13 million, public records show. 

The case was featured in the Wall Street Journal article, "Why One School District Spent $1 Million Fighting a Special-Education Student." The article may be found at Wall Street Journal (subscription required)