Darcy L. Kriha is a partner
at Franczek Sullivan P.C. She represents public school districts
and special education cooperatives throughout Illinois. In
addition to overall school board representation, Ms. Kriha
is known for her expertise related to special education and
high-profile student discipline matters.
Ms. Kriha has given oral arguments in two precedent-setting
special education cases before the United States Court of
Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, both of which were decided
in favor of the school districts: T.D. v. LaGrange School
District No. 102, 222 F.Supp.2d 1062 (N.D. Ill. 2002);
aff’d. 349 F.3d 469 (7th Cir. 2003) and Beth B.
v. Lake Bluff School District 65, 211 F.Supp.2d 1020
(N.D. Ill. 2001); aff'd. 282 F.3d 493 (7th Cir. 2002).
Ms. Kriha was Counsel of Record for Amici Curiae in the United
States Supreme Court case Arlington Central School District
Board of Education v. Murphy, No. 05-18 (2006). The U.S.
Supreme Court held in favor of the School District, holding
that parents who prevail in special education disputes are
not entitled to expert witness fees. Ms. Kriha represented
the National School Boards Association, the American Association
of School Administrators, the New York State School Boards
Association and the New York State Council of School Superintendents
in support of the Arlington Central Board of Education.
In July of 2006, Ms. Kriha was selected by the Law Bulletin
Publishing Company as one of Illinois' "40 Under
Forty Attorneys to Watch." Ms. Kriha was recognized for
her unique and exceptional lawyering skills in the field of
education law and her commitment to the profession, including
extensive volunteer work.
Ms. Kriha joined Franczek Sullivan in 1997. She received
her law degree in 1992 from the John Marshall Law School and
graduated magna cum laude from Mundelein College in 1989 with
a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. She is a member of
the Bar of the State of Illinois and is admitted as an attorney
of record before the United States Supreme Court, the Illinois
Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the
Seventh Circuit, and the United States District Court, Northern
and Central Districts of Illinois.
|
