2025 was filled with perseverance and plenty of successes. As the year comes to a close we are proud to continue to embody our firm’s mission in the face of the challenges of our time: to honor those we represent as people, not just cases, and welcoming families and individuals of all backgrounds, including but not limited to people of color, individuals with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
During a time when administrators act like tyrants and some teachers lean on the side of their employer, our responsibility to step in and continue to fight for those who are being ignored has never felt more righteous. 2025 brought with it some successes and important stories in this journey that we’d like to share with you:
Helping A Student Escape The School-To-Prison Pipeline
Jay was a child who experienced chronic childhood trauma resulting in significant mental health issues. His conditions wereknown to his teachers beginning in the first grade, yet year after year, instead of evaluating him for special education services, under the auspices of “attempting pre-referral interventions” he was routinely referred to outside agencies. Jay’s mental health needs were not addressed in the school environment resulting in behavioral problems. As the years went by, the school’s responses to his behaviors became increasingly punitive. In the ninth grade he was involved in a major altercation at school. Not only did the school call the police on him, it also failed to inform the authorities that he was a child with a suspected disability, and characterized him as a danger to the school environment (even though it was the school environment that was unsafe). During his time at Juvenile Hall at the age of fourteen, Jay was brutally assaulted.
Jay’s trajectory would have been different had his teachers in elementary school put in the effort to understand his need for in-school support, and the importance of his gaining procedural protections under the IDEA. Had they been attentive to their responsibilities, the school would have been required to implement “positive behavior supports” and provide counseling. The school team would have met annually to review his needs and progress. More importantly, he would have been protected from disciplinary removals due to his disability related behavior.
Jay’s entry into the school to prison pipeline was a direct result of the school’s failures. Had those in who held power over Jay approached him as a child in need of help, and not a responsibility to be avoided, they would have saved him from years of barriers and unnecessary suffering.
Hirji, Chau & Rodriguez represented Jay in multiple disciplinary, special education, civil and juvenile delinquency proceedings over the course of the last four years. We also supported his family, and worked with community agencies to ensure access to all supportive services. After significant litigation, and to avoid continued exposure, the school district offered a favorable settlement. We are proud that Jay completed his high school at Fusion Academy, and is now enrolled in a vocational program.
Hirji, Chau & Rodriguez, LLP celebrates and congratulates Jay for obtaining his high school diploma despite the insurmountable barriers thrown at him by his own school community.
Fighting For A Victim Of LAUSD Retaliation
Joanie was just trying to deliver pizza to her children’s special education teachers at their school when she was aggressively confronted and publicly screamed at by the school’s principal. This incident was the result of a power-trip, a retaliation for her multi-year long attempt to advocate for her children’s rights. Ultimately, the hostility she faced led her to withdraw her children and enroll in a charter school. No parent should have to go through this. No administrator should feel that they have the right to terrorize the people they are beholden to.
Joanie filed a uniform complaint procedure, which was rejected by the District using false regulatory language that the District conjured out thin air. We fought tooth and nail for “Joanie” to receive justice for her unfair treatment through the appeal process and eventually filed for a lawsuit. While the case did not fully go in “Joanies” favor, the case was important in that allowing agencies to make up their own statutory or regulatory language to defend wrongful decisions creates a dangerous precedent. Challenging LAUSD and CDE’s conduct put them on notice that they cannot act with impunity. This is critical for families with children with disabilities when they are seeking justice—particularly in situations where agencies have retaliated against families for disability advocacy.
If this was a one-off mistake, that would be one thing. However, the district quoted the spurious regulatory language as the basis of their wrongful determination and then CDE quoted the same “fake regulation,” not once, but on three separate occasions. It wasn’t until Parents filed their lawsuit that the district and CDE were willing to change their tune.
To their credit, the LAUSD made substantial efforts to avoid future violations by drafting and distributing a bulletin addressing the issue. Here is a copy of their letter.
CDE, on the other hand, was only willing to order LAUSD to reconsider. At no point was CDE willing to admit their grievous mistake. Unfortunately, because the standard for proving that the “wrongful conduct will be repeated” is so high (see Morning Star Co. v. State Bd. of Equalization (2006) 38 Cal.4th 324, 336), that even showing that CDE had repeatedly engaged in the wrongful conduct wasn’t enough to prevent the Court from dismissing the case. However, if CDE cites spurious regulatory language in the future, we now have a court decision that does detail how CDE engaged in that conduct in the past.
Obtaining Reimbursement For A Child Who Was Abandoned By LAUSD
The school district paid a heavy price due to their failures to ensure that Cindy’s academic and mental health needs were met in the least restrictive environment. Though very bright and socially aware, Cindy experienced anxiety and difficulty in all academic areas. The school district, in an effort to avoid their responsibility offered deficient services that could not address her academics and mental health needs. After the school district ignored several requests from her family, her family decided to unilaterally place Cindy in a private school, and notified the school district that they intended to seek reimbursement for the out-of -pocket fees to educate her appropriately. The school district, disrespectfully, ignored Cindy for the next two school years, and failed to conduct Cindy’s triennial evaluations, requiring Parent to incur costs for what is supposed to be a free appropriate public education.
Hirji, Chau & Rodriguez assisted Cindy’s family in obtaining reimbursement for their out of pocket expenses related to Cindy’s placement in a private school, related services, and assessments through special education due process by pointing out the substantive deficits of the school district’s program, and the procedural deficits of the school district’s actions.
Obtaining Support and Safety For A Victim of Violent Bullying at an LAUSD School
Gabby was an innocent middle school student suffering severe and pervasive bullying at the hands of her peers. Her school was aware of the bullying and that most of the bullies were involved in gangs. Shockingly, despite this, Gabby’s school did nothing to protect her. She was eventually attacked by a large group of bullies directly across from her school, beaten so brutally that she lost consciousness, and transported to emergency care. When Gabby returned to school, no one protected her from her attackers. Hirji, Chau & Rodriguez intervened and filed for civil harassment orders (“CHO”) against three of the bullies. The CHO’s were granted.
Hirji, Chau & Rodriguez had Gabby privately assessed and found that she not only had Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (“PTSD”) from her assault, but also Specific Learning Disorder (“SLD”) and Unspecified Communication Disorder. Had the school district fulfilled their obligations, Gabby would have had an individualized education program in place. This could have helped keep her safe and provided Gabby accommodations for her disabilities. Hirji, Chau & Rodriguez represented Gabby in a number of special education and civil proceedings for several years, obtaining an IEP and a civil settlement for Gabby. During the course of this process, “Gabby” had a baby. Hirji, Chau & Rodriguez also helped obtain appropriate school placement and social services supports for both Gabby and her baby.
Justice For A Non-Verbal Child Who Was Slapped and Berated By His Teacher
Chris is a sweet 5 year old boy. While enrolled in the LAUSD’s PAL Special Day Program, Chris was subjected to disgusting verbal abuse by his teacher and aides, and, shockingly, on at least one occasion, was repeatedly slapped in the head by his teacher, causing deep trauma. Because Chris could not speak, he could not ask for help or communicate his abuse to his family. Chris did not return to school due to displaying signs of extreme fear, and LAUSD refused to provide an incident report or related records. It took some time before the total truth of the situation came to light.
No child should be beaten. No child should be verbally abused. This is not just a matter of code or law but a matter of basic empathy.
Hirji, Chau & Rodriguez intervened and represented Chris in a number of special education and civil proceedings for several years, and obtained a due process and a civil settlement for Chris.
Fighting For A Student’s Access To Her Education
Sarah is a 5-year-old girl from Los Angeles. She uses a G-tube and requires a wheelchair to move. Due to her disabilities, LAUSD identified Sarah for early start services, including home-to-school transportation. Upon starting school, LAUSD refused to provide a wheelchair for bus transport, telling her parents to seek a wheelchair via Medi-Cal. With no other choice, her parents immediately applied. They were then forced to wait about eight months before Sarah received a wheelchair. During this period of time Sarah received no education or help from the district.
Once the family finally received their wheelchair, LAUSD required it to be inspected before Sarah could use it to get on a school bus. While the wheelchair was in LAUSD’s custody for inspection, LAUSD damaged the chair and then refused to buy a new one. Infuriatingly, Sarah’s Parents had to reapply for a wheelchair through Medi-Cal, and after six months Sarah received a replacement wheelchair. Throughout this entire period of time Sarah received no education from LAUSD. Over approximately two years, Sarah attended school fewer than 10 days. The moral of the story is that Sarah was effectively abandoned by the district. The situation is as frustrating to look back on as it is absurd.
Hirji, Chau & Rodriguez intervened and filed a federal civil lawsuit. In her complaint, Sarah alleges LAUSD required a wheelchair for bus access while at the same time refusing to provide or replace one and implemented discriminatory policies that denied equal access to education. In addition, Sarah alleges that LAUSD’s disability discrimination denied her access to education for over two years, which has resulted in a loss of civil rights, educational opportunities, and emotional distress, including humiliation, hardship, and anxiety.
Highlights from 2025
This year we welcomed multiple wonderful people into our family. The brilliant Ariel Harman-Holmes joined our team as an Associate Attorney in July. She brings to the firm over fifteen years of experience in civil, public defense, and public interest litigation, as well as a deeply rooted passion for civil rights. Nicole Abnous and Frances McCall also did incredible work with us over the summer as law clerks. We are grateful to have spent these last few months in their presence, and look forward to working with both of them in the future.
We published quite a few informational articles over 2025. The following are highlights:
Regarding The Recent Department of Education Cuts
Our Statement Of Opposition To Bill AB715
The Implications of Mahmoud V. Taylor
The BBB: Cuts to Medicaid & Snap
Ways That Californians Are Protecting Their Students
The Attack on Free Speech On University Campuses The Case of Mahmoud Khalil
Guidance for Students, Workers, and Teachers Dealing With ICE
Information For LGBTQ + Students Under Trump
Regarding Donald Trump’s Funding Freeze And its Effect on Education
We refuse to enable the systemic disenfranchisement of innocent children and their caregivers who advocate for them. All children deserve love and community. This simple belief is the foundation of our continuous practice. We look forward to continuing upholding it with you, our community, in 2026.
Hirji, Chau & Rodriguez
Disclaimer: We recognize that each case presents unique circumstances, and outcomes vary accordingly. Our commitment is to achieve the best possible results for every individual case, while acknowledging the systemic issues that persist.