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I would like to find out how much my school district is paying a private lawyer to work on a particular matter. Can I use FOIA (the Freedom of Information Act) or a similar state statute for this information?

For purposes of this question, the "particular matter" is not an active lawsuit. It is the lawyer doing compliance work for the school district, such as attending meetings, following procedures, and other matters related to special education advocacy.

I would like to find out how much my school district is paying a private lawyer to work on a particular matter. Can I use FOIA (the Freedom of Information Act) or a similar state statute for this information?

For purposes of this question, the "particular matter" is not a lawsuit exactly. It is the lawyer doing compliance work for the school district, such as attending meetings, following procedures, responding to U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights investigation questions, preparing and arguing a special education impartial hearing case, and other matters related to special education advocacy.

I would like to find out how much my child's school district has paid their lawyer so far in fighting my advocacy efforts. Can I FOIA for this? If so, can you help me word it?

I was asked to provide my jurisdiction. I think that means I should tell you that I am in the United States.

Re "defend a particular lawsuit" -- There isn't exactly a law suit. First of all, the school district likes to send its lawyer to all my school meetings. And the lawyer likes to check that the district isn't making any glaring mistakes on evaluations, prior written notice requirements, etc. For those things there isn't any legal action going on.

However, I have filed some complaints with the Office for Civil Rights, and that involves an investigation and mediation (lots of trading drafts back and forth).

And recently I filed for due process, and this involves an impartial hearing, but it's still not exactly a lawsuit.

I hope that helps. Sorry I didn't explain initially. Special education advocacy in the U.S. is usually some combination of the things I described. But I shouldn't have assumed everyone is familiar with that.

I would like to find out how much my school district is paying a private lawyer to work on a particular matter. Can I use FOIA (the Freedom of Information Act) or a similar state statute for this information?

For purposes of this question, the "particular matter" is not an active lawsuit. It is the lawyer doing compliance work for the school district, such as attending meetings, following procedures, and other matters related to special education advocacy.

I would like to find out how much my child's school district has paid their lawyer so far in fighting my advocacy efforts. Can I FOIA for this? If so, can you help me word it?

I would like to find out how much my child's school district has paid their lawyer so far in fighting my advocacy efforts. Can I FOIA for this? If so, can you help me word it?

I was asked to provide my jurisdiction. I think that means I should tell you that I am in the United States.

Re "defend a particular lawsuit" -- There isn't exactly a law suit. First of all, the school district likes to send its lawyer to all my school meetings. And the lawyer likes to check that the district isn't making any glaring mistakes on evaluations, prior written notice requirements, etc. For those things there isn't any legal action going on.

However, I have filed some complaints with the Office for Civil Rights, and that involves an investigation and mediation (lots of trading drafts back and forth).

And recently I filed for due process, and this involves an impartial hearing, but it's still not exactly a lawsuit.

I hope that helps. Sorry I didn't explain initially. Special education advocacy in the U.S. is usually some combination of the things I described. But I shouldn't have assumed everyone is familiar with that.