HARRISBURG – A Bucks County non-profit residential treatment facility is suing a school district in an effort to collect costs for a disabled child’s care and special education program.
Woods Service Inc. of Langhorne filed a lawsuit Dec. 22 in U.S. District Court of the Middle District of Pennsylvania against the Hazelton Area School District in Hazel Township, alleging a violation of the Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, breach of contract and unjust enrichment.
From Feb. 10-June 20, 2014, according to the complaint, the school district paid Woods in full for the residential and educational costs of the student’s placement at Woods, including the student’s full cost of one-on-one classroom and residential aide.
Nonetheless, according to the lawsuit, after June 30, 2014, the school district refused to pay for the student’s one-on-one residential aide, as well as the student’s ESY instruction and residential care at Woods in July and August 2014, and July and August 2015.
Woods Services seeks $226,450.80, together with pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interest and all costs. It is represented by attorneys Christopher P. Coval of Fenningham, Stevens, Dempster & Coval LLP in Trevose, and Jeffery J. Malak of Chariton, Schwager & Malak in Wilkes-Barre.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania Case number 2:16-cv-02464-ARC