Idaho Parent with Special Needs Son Looses Lawsuit Against Schools

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A federal jury has sided with two Idaho school districts in a lawsuit brought by the family of a teen with Asperger's syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder.

The jury deliberated about 6½ hours Friday before reaching the verdict in favor of the Boise and Meridian school districts, and U.S. District Judge Candy Dale issued an order officially dismissing the lawsuit on Wednesday. Diana Abramowski filed the lawsuit on behalf of her son, Matthew Abramowski, in 2011, contending that the two school districts failed to give Matthew the education promised him under federal law, instead teaching him counterproductive strategies to cope.

But the districts' attorneys countered that Matthew was given more time and more assessments than any other student in the districts and that his education was both equal and appropriate.