Fact Check: The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals previously ruled that school officials must have acted with 'bad faith or gross misjudgment' for disability discrimination suits involving educational services to proceed.

Fact Check: "The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals previously ruled that school officials must have acted with 'bad faith or gross misjudgment' for disability discrimination suits involving educational services to proceed."

What We Know

The claim that the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals requires a showing of "bad faith or gross misjudgment" for disability discrimination suits involving educational services is supported by various legal precedents. In the case of A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools, the court stated that a plaintiff must prove that school officials acted with "either bad faith or gross misjudgment" to succeed in their claims (source-2). This standard was reiterated in other cases, indicating that mere negligence or failure to provide reasonable accommodations is insufficient for liability (source-3).

The Supreme Court has also addressed this issue, clarifying that students bringing claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act are not required to meet this heightened standard, but the 8th Circuit had previously established it (source-1).

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim comes from multiple legal rulings and analyses of the 8th Circuit's standards. The court's requirement for a showing of "bad faith or gross misjudgment" establishes a higher threshold for plaintiffs in educational settings compared to other contexts of disability discrimination (source-4).

However, the reliability of the sources varies. Legal documents and rulings from the courts themselves, such as those from the 8th Circuit and the Supreme Court, are primary sources and thus highly credible. Articles discussing these cases, such as those from legal blogs and news outlets, provide context but may reflect the authors' interpretations or biases (source-5, source-6).

The Supreme Court's recent ruling in A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools indicates a shift in the legal landscape, aligning the standards for educational discrimination claims with those applicable in other contexts (source-7). This suggests that while the 8th Circuit had previously maintained a stricter standard, the legal environment is evolving.

Conclusion

The claim that the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals requires school officials to have acted with "bad faith or gross misjudgment" for disability discrimination suits to proceed is True. This standard was indeed established in prior rulings by the court, although recent Supreme Court decisions indicate a potential shift towards a more uniform standard across all contexts of disability discrimination.

Sources

1. PDF Supreme Court of The United States
2. PDF United States Court of Appeals
3. A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools, Independent School District No. 279
4. A. J. T., by and through her parents, A. T. & G. T., Petitioner v ...
5. Supreme Court appears likely to side with student in disability ...
6. Supreme Court Case, April 28, 2025 - SPED LAW BLOG
7. U.S. Supreme Court Upholds "Deliberate Indifference" in ADA and Section ...
8. Supreme Court To Weigh How ADA, 504 Claims Against Schools Should Be ...