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Introduction
Davis Wright Tremaine's experience in municipal
finance served as the basis for the development of a separate area
of practice in education law. Local education agencies with whom we
had developed contacts as bond counsel began asking for our advice
about a variety of legal issues outside the municipal finance area.
Soon, our representation expanded into tort liability, staff evaluation,
employee discipline and termination, public bidding, open meeting
requirements, student rights and responsibilities, Constitutional
Law issues including religion and freedom of expression, and drug
testing of students and employees.
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Department Members
- Portland
Rebecca Cady
George M. Mardikes
Timothy Volpert
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Range of Services Offered
Legal
Services
As the State Assembly and the Congress
enact new legislation affecting school districts, we respond by developing
proficiency in those areas. For example, since Congress passed PL
94-142 in 1976, giving specific procedural and substantive rights
to handicapped students, we have handled due process hearings for
many school districts from the administrative level through the trial
and appellate process, including the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
To improve legal service and reduce legal fees, we have established
a good working relationship with the Oregon Advocacy Center and its
attorneys, as well as the private attorneys who represent handicapped
students and their parents. These relationships frequently enable
us to avoid adversarial confrontations or solve legal disputes without
an administrative hearing or trial.
We frequently participate in in-service training for
school districts' personnel. We also present information as guest
speakers for classes in government, social studies, history or other
classes which address the legal system or legal issues. And we are
always prepared to meet with school boards at regular or special
meetings and are available by telephone in the event a board is
faced with a question which needs immediate legal response.
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