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Parents file response to Sherrard School District appeal in service dog case

The parents of a little girl involved in a legal dispute over her service dog have filed a response in federal court, after the Sherrard School District decided...

The parents of a little girl involved in a legal dispute over her service dog have filed a response in federal court, after the Sherrard School District decided to appeal the case.

Colin and Brandi McGuire are asking the federal court to stick with a state hearing officer's original ruling, which found the district failed to  provide a fair and free education for their daughter Kelsey, who has epilepsy.

The district filed an appeal in February. The McGuires filed a 32 page response in federal court  yesterday, April 20th.

They are asking a federal judge to award damages, pay their daughter's tuition at a private school for two years, and all attorneys fees.

The school district has said it wants to settle the matter, but the McGuires took everything off the table.

They say the district needs to pay up what is owed and follow the law.

"They did make an offer to us, it wasn't necessarily an offer. It was what the court ordered them to do. But they refuse to pay any attorney fees", said Brandi McGuire.

Their attorney John Doak says federal disability law requires the district to pay the McGuire's legal fees, as long as they are fair and reasonable.

Right now, the McGuire's legal fees are about $60,000 and counting.

The district's are believed to be around $100,000.

An appeal could take up to a year.

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