Feeney Law Office, PLLC

Special Education and the Law

Feeney Law Office, PLLC works to empower families seeking educational services, focusing on the rights of disabled students to a free and appropriate public education.

We are one of the few law offices in the state of Washington to focus in civil rights and disability law. For two decades, the goal of Kerri Feeney and her associates has been to protect and assert clients' rights while guiding them through the legal process.

Experienced

Since 2003, Kerri and her associates have advocated for the rights of disabled clients. With 25 years of experience as an educator, Kerri's dedication has earned her a reputation that clients trust.

Passionate

Feeney Law Office is a dynamic team of legal professionals who share a passion for justice and a commitment to social responsibility. They have the talent and drive needed to handle the complexities of special education advocacy.

versatile

In addition to special education and disability law, Feeney Law Office is able to advise and assist clients with guardianship and adoption matters, as well as mediation and civil litigation.

What We Do

Feeney Law provides legal assistance in many ways, including:

MEDIATION

Kerri completed the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School in October 2013. She is a strong proponent of mediation as a means to resolve disputes, especially disputes over educational services.

EDUCATION LAW

Provides Plaintiff representation in disputes with school districts over education services, expulsion and discipline, discrimination, and retaliation claims.

GUARDIANSHIPS

Drafts documents providing alternatives to guardianship, including Powers of Attorney and other estate planning devices. Provides representation in guardianship actions, including contested guardianship petitions.

CIVIL LITIGATION

Provides Plaintiff representation in civil lawsuits for damages due to neglect/abuse, loss of benefits, medical malpractice, deliberate indifference, and violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

ADOPTIONS

Guides you through the legal process of growing your family.

Professional Activities & Awards

Kerri presents at continuing legal education seminars on the topics of legal ethics and special education law. She regularly presents at conferences open to the public on guardianships, Section 504 and Health Care Plans, and on various topics pertaining to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. As of 2020, she is the president of the Attorneys for Education Rights (AFER), a Washington nonprofit dedicated to improving educational outcomes for children in Washington state. Learn more about AFER here.

For the last three years (2020 - 2022), Kerri has been designated a Super Lawyer, a peer designation awarded only to a select number of accomplished attorneys in each state. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. This selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.

In 2015, the Washington State Association of Justice named Kerri the Public Justice Lawyer of the Year for her advocacy on behalf of clients and students with disabilities.

Legal Outcomes

Feeney Law Office, PLLC has a history of securing positive results.

Two of our notable cases:

Taber et al. v. Oasis Physical Therapy - (Franklin County Superior Court) - Co-counsel representing a group of approximately 60 female patients who were sexually harassed and abused by a physical therapist in the provision of physical therapy and successfully settled their claims.

Garcia v. Grandview School District - (Eastern District Court of Washington) - Co-counsel representing a student with severe hearing impairment bringing claims against the Grandview School District under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504. Resulted in a settlement of $1 million.

News

2023

In July, Kerri will be honored again as a 2023 Washington State Super Lawyer.

On Thursday, February 9, from 6-7 PM PST, Feeney Law Of Counsel Attorney Monica K. Hollenberg spoke at a guardianship workshop hosted by the Benton-Franklin Counties Special Education PTA and the ARC of Tri-Cities.

2022

In July, Kerri was honored again as a 2022 Washington State Super Lawyer.

2021

March 20, 2021. Washington Autism Alliance. Blueprints for Special Education Online Workshop: “ABC’s of IEPs”. Kerri joined three of Washington state’s most prominent special education attorneys for an in-depth presentation on how to use the building blocks of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to develop appropriate services for students with special needs.

In July, Kerri was honored again as a 2021 Washington State Super Lawyer.

2020

In July, Kerri was designated a 2020 Super Lawyer, a peer designation that is awarded to a select number of accomplished attorneys in each state. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. This selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.

September 18, 2020. AFER Seminar CLE Series: “Ethics for the Education Lawyer"

September 26, 2020. Washington Autism Alliance & Advocacy:"Dispute Resolution"

2019

On September 6th, 2019, Kerri gave a presentation on Ethics for the annual Special Education Lawyers Seminar, located at the Washington Athletic Club in Seattle.

2018

Kerri presented at the 2018 Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates Conference in Monterey, California on the following dates:

3/10/2018: “An Advocate’s Guide to Dyslexia”

3/11/2018: “It’s All Greek to Me – Understanding Psychoeducational Assessment Results”

2016

In April of 2016, Kerri was one of eleven attorneys sworn in by the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.