Opinion

Gonzales v. Natl Board Med

Court: Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Filed: Aug 22, 2000
Status: Published
Cited by: 0 cases

The opinion

5(&200(1'(' )25 )8//7(;7 38%/,&$7,21

*RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG 1R 3XUVXDQW WR 6L[WK &LUFXLW 5XOH

RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV (/(&7521,& &,7$7,21 )(' $SS 3 WK &LU

)LOH 1DPH DS

,PXVWFRQIHVVWKDWEHIRUHGHOYLQJLQWRWKLVFDVH,ZRXOG 81,7('67$7(6&28572)$33($/6

KDYHEHHQVNHSWLFDOWKDWDSHUVRQZLWKDUHDGLQJGLVDELOLW\DV )257+(6,;7+&,5&8,7

VHULRXVDVWKHRQH*RQ]DOHVLQVLVWVKHKDVZRXOGEHDEOHWR BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB

VXUYLYH WKH ULJRUV RI PHGLFDO VFKRRO DQG EH FDSDEOH RI

SUDFWLFLQJ PHGLFLQH VXFFHVVIXOO\ DIWHUZDUG 1HYHUWKHOHVV

*RQ]DOHVKDVDSSDUHQWO\VDWLVILHGWKHIDFXOW\RIRQHRIWKLV

FRXQWU\¶VSUHHPLQHQWPHGLFDOVFKRROVWKDWKHZRXOGPDNHD 0,&+$(/ *21=$/(6 ;

YHU\JRRGSK\VLFLDQDQG,KDYHOLWWOHGRXEWWKDWWKHIDFXOW\RI 3ODLQWLII$SSHOODQW

WKH8QLYHUVLW\RI0LFKLJDQ0HGLFDO6FKRRODUHEHWWHUMXGJHV

WKDQ,RIZKRRXJKWWREHDOORZHGWRSUDFWLFHPHGLFLQH 1R

)RUWKHUHDVRQVVHWIRUWKDERYH,EHOLHYHWKDWWKHGLVWULFW !

FRXUW¶VILQGLQJWKDW*RQ]DOHVGRHVQRWKDYHDGLVDELOLW\ZLWKLQ 1$7,21$/ %2$5' 2)

WKHPHDQLQJRIWKH$'$LVQRWVXSSRUWHGE\WKHUHFRUGDVLW 0(',&$/ (;$0,1(56

SUHVHQWO\H[LVWV7KHRQO\ILQGLQJFRQVLVWHQWZLWK*RQ]DOHV¶V 'HIHQGDQW$SSHOOHH

WHVWLPRQ\DQGWKHFRQFOXVLRQVRIWKHWZRH[SHUWVZKRKDYH

PHW ZLWK DQG H[DPLQHG KLP LV WKDW KH KDV D UDWKHU VHYHUH 1

UHDGLQJGLVDELOLW\$OWKRXJKWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWZDVREYLRXVO\

QRW UHTXLUHG WR FUHGLW *RQ]DOHV¶V WHVWLPRQ\ RU WKDW RI $SSHDOIURPWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV'LVWULFW&RXUW

'U *LRUGDQL WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW¶V GHFLVLRQ WR FUHGLW WKH IRUWKH(DVWHUQ'LVWULFWRI0LFKLJDQDW'HWURLW

WHVWLPRQ\ RI 'UV )ODQDJDQ DQG /LWFKIRUG SDUWLFXODUO\ 1R²/DZUHQFH3=DWNRII&KLHI'LVWULFW-XGJH

'U )ODQDJDQ VHHPV WR PH LUUHFRQFLODEOH ZLWK WKH GLVWULFW

FRXUW¶V UHFRJQLWLRQ RI 'U *LRUGDQL DV D ³FRPSHWHQW DQG $UJXHG-DQXDU\

DFFRPSOLVKHG SV\FKRORJLVW´ *RQ]DOH>V@ Y 1DW¶O %G RI

0HGLFDO ([DPLQHUV ) 6XSS G (' 0LFK 'HFLGHGDQG)LOHG$XJXVW

%HIRUH1(/62168+5+(,15,&+DQG*,/0$1

,ZRXOGWKHUHIRUHYDFDWHWKHRUGHURIWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWDQG &LUFXLW-XGJHV

UHPDQGWKLVFDVHIRUIXUWKHUSURFHHGLQJV7KHGLVWULFWFRXUW

FRXOGDOORZVXSSOHPHQWDOEULHILQJRULQWKHH[HUFLVHRILWV BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB

GLVFUHWLRQWKHWDNLQJRIDGGLWLRQDOHYLGHQFHRQWKHVXEMHFWRI

ZKHWKHU*RQ]DOHVLVOLNHO\WRVXFFHHGRQWKHPHULWVDQGWKHQ &2816(/

LI QHFHVVDU\ DGGUHVV WKH RWKHU IDFWRUV WKDW DUH UHOHYDQW LQ

GHWHUPLQLQJZKHWKHULQMXQFWLYHUHOLHIVKRXOGEHJUDQWHG $5*8('5LFKDUG-/DQGDX'<.(0$*266(77$QQ

$UERU0LFKLJDQIRU$SSHOODQW5R\&+D\HV,,,+$<(6

/$: ),50 &KDUOHYRL[ 0LFKLJDQ IRU $SSHOOHH

21%5,()5LFKDUG-/DQGDX'<.(0$*266(77$QQ

$UERU 0LFKLJDQ IRU $SSHOODQW 5R\ & +D\HV 5R\ &

*RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG 1R 1R *RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG

RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV

+D\HV,,,+$<(6/$:),50&KDUOHYRL[0LFKLJDQIRU 7KHUHPLJKWZHOOKDYHEHHQRWKHUUHDVRQVZK\*RQ]DOHV

$SSHOOHH ZDVQRWOLNHO\WRVXFFHHGRQWKHPHULWV,QGHHGWKHUHPLJKW

KDYHEHHQUHDVRQVZHLJKLQJDJDLQVWJUDQWLQJLQMXQFWLYHUHOLHI

68+5+(,15,&+-GHOLYHUHGWKHRSLQLRQRIWKHFRXUWLQ HYHQLI*RQ]DOHVKDGHVWDEOLVKHGDOLNHOLKRRGRIVXFFHVVRQ

ZKLFK 1(/621 - MRLQHG *,/0$1 - SS WKHPHULWV%XWWKHGLVWULFWFRXUW¶VGHFLVLRQWRGHQ\LQMXQFWLYH

GHOLYHUHGDVHSDUDWHGLVVHQWLQJRSLQLRQ UHOLHIZDVEDVHGRQLWVILQGLQJWKDW*RQ]DOHVGLGQRWKDYHDQ\

GLVDELOLW\ZLWKLQWKHPHDQLQJRIWKH$'$DQGWKXVKDGQR

BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB FKDQFHRIVXFFHVVRQWKHPHULWVDQGWKDWILQGLQJRQWKHEDVLV

RIWKHUHFRUGEHIRUHXVDSSHDUVWRPHWRKDYHEHHQFOHDUO\

23,1,21 HUURQHRXV

BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB

,,,

68+5+(,15,&+ &LUFXLW -XGJH 3ODLQWLII 0LFKDHO

*RQ]DOHV ³*RQ]DOHV´ RU ³3ODLQWLII´ DSSHDOV WKH GLVWULFW ,DOVRGLVDJUHHZLWKWKHPDMRULW\¶VVWDWHPHQWWKDW*RQ]DOHV

FRXUW¶VGHQLDORIKLVUHTXHVWIRUSUHOLPLQDU\LQMXQFWLYHUHOLHI GRHV QRW ³ILW ZLWKLQ &RQJUHVV¶V YLVLRQ RI WKH GLVDEOHG

XQGHUWKH$PHULFDQVZLWK'LVDELOLWLHV$FW86& SRSXODWLRQ´0DM2SDW$OWKRXJKLWLVLQGLVSXWDEOHWKDW

HWVHT³$'$´3ODLQWLIIUHTXHVWHGWKDW'HIHQGDQW1DWLRQDO ³>S@HUVRQVZLWKPLQRUWULYLDOLPSDLUPHQWVVXFKDVDVLPSOH

%RDUGRI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV³1%0(´RU³'HIHQGDQW´EH LQIHFWHG ILQJHU DUH QRW LPSDLUHG LQ D PDMRU OLIH DFWLYLW\´

RUGHUHGWRDOORZKLPH[WHQGHGWLPHWRWDNHWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV 0DM 2S DW , GR QRW XQGHUVWDQG KRZ WKH UHDGLQJ

0HGLFDO /LFHQVLQJ ([DPLQDWLRQ 6WHS ³6WHS LPSDLUPHQW GHVFULEHG E\ *RQ]DOHV DQG 'U *LRUGDQL FDQ

([DPLQDWLRQ´EHFDXVHRIDQDOOHJHGGLVDELOLW\ UHDVRQDEO\EHFRPSDUHGWRDQLQIHFWHGILQJHU

,%$&.*5281' )LQDOO\ , GLVDJUHH ZLWK WKH PDMRULW\¶V DVVHUWLRQ WKDW

UHFRJQL]LQJVHULRXVUHDGLQJLPSDLUPHQWVRIWKHVRUWGHVFULEHG

,QDIWHUVXFFHVVIXOO\FRPSOHWLQJWZR\HDUVRIPHGLFDO E\ *RQ]DOHV DV ³GLVDELOLWLHV´ ZRXOG VWUHWFK WKH $'$ ZHOO

VFKRRO DW WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI 0LFKLJDQ 0HGLFDO 6FKRRO EH\RQGLWV LQWHQGHGSXUSRVH&RQJUHVVDQWLFLSDWHGWKDWLWV

³8006´*RQ]DOHVDSSOLHGWRWDNHWKH6WHS([DPLQDWLRQ GHILQLWLRQRI³DQLQGLYLGXDOZLWKDGLVDELOLW\´ZRXOGDSSO\WR

D SUHUHTXLVLWHWRSURFHHGLQJZLWKWKHWKLUG\HDURIPHGLFDO ³VRPH $PHULFDQV´ 86& D

VFKRRO7KH6WHS([DPLQDWLRQLVWKHILUVWRIWKUHH8QLWHG )RUW\WKUHHPLOOLRQLVWRRVPDOODQXPEHUWRLQFOXGHDOORIWKH

6WDWHV0HGLFDO/LFHQVLQJ([DPLQDWLRQV³860/(´UHTXLUHG SHRSOHLQWKH8QLWHG6WDWHVZKRUHTXLUHH\HJODVVHVRUFRQWDFW

IRUPHGLFDOOLFHQVXUHLQDOOVWDWHV7KH1%0(DGPLQLVWHUVWKH OHQVHVWRVHHQRUPDOO\VHH6XWWRQ86DWREVHUYLQJ

860/( WKDWFRXQWLQJSHUVRQVZKRFDQVHHQRUPDOO\ZLWKFRUUHFWLYH

OHQVHV DV ³GLVDEOHG´ ZRXOG GULYH WKH WRWDO RI ³GLVDEOHG´

%HIRUHWDNLQJWKH6WHS([DPLQDWLRQRQ-XQH SHUVRQVZHOORYHURQHKXQGUHGPLOOLRQDIDUJUHDWHUQXPEHU

*RQ]DOHV DVVHUWHG D OHDUQLQJ GLVDELOLW\ DQG UHTXHVWHG WKH WKDQ&RQJUHVVLQWHQGHGEHFRYHUHGE\WKH$'$EXWIRUW\

1%0(WRDOORZKLPH[WHQGHGWLPHRQHDQGDKDOIWLPHVWKH WKUHHPLOOLRQLVVWLOODYHU\ODUJHQXPEHU²ODUJHU,WKLQNWKDQ

VWDQGDUGWLPHRQWKHH[DPLQDWLRQ+HVXSSRUWHGKLVUHTXHVW WKHPDMRULW\LVZLOOLQJWRUHFRJQL]H

IRUWHVWDFFRPPRGDWLRQVZKLFKZDVHQGRUVHGE\8006

ZLWK D SV\FKRORJLFDO HYDOXDWLRQ ZKLFK *RUGRQ / 8OUH\

*RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG 1R 1R *RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG

RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV

WHVWLPRQ\DVZHOODVWKDWRI'U*LRUGDQLWRWKHHIIHFWWKDW ³8OUH\´3K'SUHSDUHGLQZKHQ*RQ]DOHVZDVDQ

*RQ]DOHV LV D PHPEHU RI WKH PLQRULW\ RI LQGLYLGXDOV ZLWK XQGHUJUDGXDWHVWXGHQWDWWKH8QLYHUVLW\RI&DOLIRUQLDDW'DYLV

VWURQJFRJQLWLYHDELOLW\EXWZLWKYHU\ZHDNUHDGLQJDELOLW\ ³8&'´

)XUWKHUPRUH'U/LWFKIRUG¶VWHVWLPRQ\GLGOLWWOHWRVXSSRUW ,Q 8OUH\ LQWHUYLHZHG *RQ]DOHV DQG UHSRUWHG WKDW

WKH1%0(¶VFODLPWKDW*RQ]DOHVGRHVQRWKDYHDOHDUQLQJ *RQ]DOHV¶VPDLQFRQFHUQZDVORZVFRUHVRQPXOWLSOHFKRLFH

GLVDELOLW\5DWKHU'U/LWFKIRUGWHVWLILHGWKDWWKHUHVXOWVRIWKH WHVWV HVSHFLDOO\ WKH 0HGLFDO &ROOHJH $SWLWXGH 7HVW

WHVWVDGPLQLVWHUHGE\'U*LRUGDQLVXSSRUWHGDILQGLQJRID ³0&$7´ ,Q DGGLWLRQ WR WKH LQWHUYLHZ 8OUH\ EDVHG KLV

ZULWLQJGLVRUGHU²DOWKRXJKKHGRXEWHGWKDWKDYLQJDZULWLQJ HYDOXDWLRQ RI *RQ]DOHV RQ D EDWWHU\ RI WHVWV :HFKVOHU

GLVRUGHUZRXOGKLQGHURQH¶VSHUIRUPDQFHRQWKH6WHSH[DP $GXOW,QWHOOLJHQFH6FDOH5HYLVHG:LGH5DQJH$FKLHYH

'U/LWFKIRUGQHYHUWKHOHVVIRUWKULJKWO\FRQFHGHGWKDWQHLWKHU 7HVW 5HYLVHG /HYHO ,, /HDUQLQJ (IILFLHQF\ 7HVW QG

KHQRUWKH1%0(KDGHYHUFRQGXFWHGDQ\VRUWRIHPSLULFDO (GLWLRQ 1HOVRQ'HQQ\ 5HDGLQJ 7HVW )RUP ( 8OUH\

VWXG\WRGHWHUPLQHZKHWKHUZULWLQJGLVDELOLWLHVKDYHDQ\HIIHFW GLDJQRVHG*RQ]DOHVDVKDYLQJDOHDUQLQJGLVDELOLW\8OUH\

RQKRZRQHSHUIRUPVRQWKH1%0(¶VH[DPLQDWLRQV FRQFOXGHGWKDW*RQ]DOHV³VKRZHGVLJQLILFDQWGLIILFXOW\ZLWK

WKHDXGLWRU\VHTXHQWLDOSURFHVVLQJRILQIRUPDWLRQDVVHHQE\

7KHTXHVWLRQRIZKHWKHUDFHUWDLQIRUPRIDFFRPPRGDWLRQ KLVSHUIRUPDQFHRQWKHDULWKPHWLFDQGGLJLWVSDQWHVWDVZHOO

LHPRUHWHVWLQJWLPHLVUHTXLUHGRUDSSURSULDWHIRUDJLYHQ DV RQ ERWK WKH YLVXDO DQG DXGLWRU\ PHPRU\ WHVWV IRU WKH

GLVDELOLW\ LV D TXHVWLRQ HQWLUHO\ VHSDUDWH IURP ZKHWKHU WKH /HDUQLQJ(IILFLHQF\([DP´8OUH\IRXQGLWDSSURSULDWHWKDW

LQGLYLGXDOKDVD³GLVDELOLW\´LQWKHILUVWSODFH6HH6KHSOHUY *RQ]DOHVEHJLYHQPRUHWLPHIRUVWDQGDUGL]HGWHVWLQJ

1RUWKZHVW2KLR'HYHORSPHQWDO&WU1R:/ DQGKHVXJJHVWHGWKDW*RQ]DOHVUHFRUGOHFWXUHVDQGUHYLHZ

DW WK&LU)HEXQSXEOLVKHG*LOPDQ ZULWWHQOHFWXUHQRWHV

- GLVVHQWLQJ REVHUYLQJ WKDW WKH TXHVWLRQ RI ZKHWKHU WKH

SODLQWLII LQ DQ $'$ FDVH KDV D GLVDELOLW\ VKRXOG EH NHSW 8OUH\DOVRIRXQGWKDWRQWKH:HFKVOHU6FDOH*RQ]DOHV¶V

DQDO\WLFDOO\VHSDUDWHIURPRWKHUTXHVWLRQVVXFKDVZKHWKHU YHUEDO DQGSHUIRUPDQFHVNLOOVUDQJHG³IURPWKHDYHUDJHWR

FHUWDLQSURSRVHGDFFRPPRGDWLRQVDUHUHTXLUHGE\WKH$'$ VXSHULRUUDQJHZLWKYHUEDO,4SHUIRUPDQFH,4DQG

'DYLGVRQY0LGHOIRUW&OLQLF/WG)GWK

&LU VDPH 0DWWKHZ 'LOOHU -XGLFLDO %DFNODVK WKH

$'$DQGWKH&LYLO5LJKWV0RGHO%(5.(/(< - (03

/$% / ±FULWLFL]LQJMXGLFLDORSLQLRQVWKDW

GHQ\UHOLHIXQGHUWKH$'$DIWHUEHQGLQJRYHUEDFNZDUGVWR 8OUH\ LV DQ $VVRFLDWH &OLQLFDO 3URIHVVRU RI 3V\FKRORJ\ DW WKH 8&'

ILQGSODLQWLIIVQRWFRYHUHGE\WKHVWDWXWH³$IWHUDOODILQGLQJ

WKDWDSHUVRQLVSURWHFWHGE\WKH$'$RQO\OHDGVWRWKHFHQWUDO Ulrey wrote that the pattern of errors on Gonzales’s tests "strongly

TXHVWLRQ RI ZKHWKHU WKH >GHIHQGDQW@ KDV LPSURSHUO\ suggests an underlying processing disorder"; that "[b]oth Michael’s

GLVFULPLQDWHG DJDLQVW WKH LQGLYLGXDO´ ,Q YLHZ RI WKH problems with the sequential processing of information visually and

auditorily as well as discrepancies between his cognitive level and his

FRQFHVVLRQ E\ 'U /LWFKIRUG ZKRVH WHVWLPRQ\ WKH GLVWULFW reading rate and reading comprehension suggest an underlying learning

FRXUWFUHGLWHGWKDWWKHUHVXOWVRIWKHWHVWVDGPLQLVWHUHGE\'U disability related to slowness in language processing"; and that "the

*LRUGDQLVXSSRUWHGDILQGLQJRIDZULWLQJGLVRUGHUWKHGLVWULFW pattern of cognitive skills as well as his ability to improve his

FRXUW¶VFRQFOXVLRQWKDW*RQ]DOHVGLGQRWKDYHDQ\GLVDELOLW\ performance significantly with increasing 50% time document both his

IRUWKHSXUSRVHVRIWKH$'$DSSHDUVXQWHQDEOH learning disability and the need for the accommodation of increased time

for tests."

*RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG 1R 1R *RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG

RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV

IXOO VFDOH ,4 ´ 8OUH\ FRQFOXGHG WKDW *RQ]DOHV KDV RI.XPKR7LUH&RDQG'DXEHUWDQGGHVHUYHVWREHFUHGLWHG

³VLJQLILFDQWVWUHQJWKVERWKLQYHUEDOFRQFHSWXDODELOLW\DVZHOO 6HH(NRWHN6LWH353&RPPLWWHHY6HOI)6XSSG

DVSHUFHSWXDORUJDQL]DWLRQ´ Q ' 8WDK FRQFOXGLQJ WKDW GLVWULFW FRXUWV

SUHVLGLQJ RYHU EHQFK WULDOV FDQ GHFLGH TXHVWLRQV RI

8&'KDGDUUDQJHGDFFRPPRGDWLRQVIRU*RQ]DOHVGXULQJ DGPLVVLELOLW\ DQG UHOLDELOLW\ DIWHU WKH SURIIHUHG HYLGHQFH LV

KLVWKLUGDQGIRXUWK\HDUVRIVWXG\EDVHGRQ8OUH\¶VUHSRUW SUHVHQWHGDWWULDO%UDGOH\Y%URZQ)6XSS

$OVR RQ WKH EDVLV RI 8OUH\¶V UHSRUW WKH 8006 SURYLGHG 1',QGJUDQWLQJDPRWLRQLQOLPLQHWRH[FOXGHXQUHOLDEOH

*RQ]DOHV ZLWK EDVLFDOO\ WKH VDPH DFFRPPRGDWLRQV KH H[SHUWHYLGHQFHIROORZLQJWKHFRPSOHWLRQRIDEHQFKWULDO

UHFHLYHGGXULQJKLVWKLUGDQGIRXUWK\HDUVDW8&'H[WHQGHG DII¶G)GWK&LU%\IDLOLQJWRFRQGXFWD

WLPHRQWHVWVDVVLVWDQFHZLWKQRWHWDNLQJDQGSHUPLVVLRQWR 'DXEHUWDQDO\VLVDVWR'U)ODQDJDQ¶VWHVWLPRQ\WKHGLVWULFW

WDSHFODVVURRPOHFWXUHV8006DOORZHG*RQ]DOHVGRXEOH FRXUW¶VFRQFOXVRU\VWDWHPHQWWKDWLWIRXQGWKHWHVWLPRQ\RI'U

WLPHRQH[DPLQDWLRQV )ODQDJDQ³PRUHSHUVXDVLYH´WKDQWKDWRI'U*LRUGDQLGRHV

QRWFRQVWLWXWHVXFKDQDQDO\VLVWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWHIIHFWLYHO\

7KH1%0(UHIHUUHG*RQ]DOHV¶VUHTXHVWDQGGRFXPHQWDWLRQ WHUPLQDWHG*RQ]DOHV¶VFDVHRQWKHPHULWVZLWKRXWHPSOR\LQJ

IRUH[WHQGHGWLPHRQWKH-XQH6WHS([DPLQDWLRQWR WKHHYLGHQWLDU\VDIHJXDUGVWKDWGLVWULFWFRXUWVDUHUHTXLUHGWR

'DZQ )ODQDJDQ 3K' DQ H[SHUW LQ WKH ILHOG RI OHDUQLQJ DSSO\ ZKHQ JHQXLQH LVVXHV RI PDWHULDO IDFW DUH LQ

GLVDELOLWLHV)ODQDJDQRSLQHGWKDW*RQ]DOHVGRHVQRWKDYHD GLVSXWH²LHDWDKHDULQJRUWULDO

OHDUQLQJGLVDELOLW\LQUHDGLQJDQGWKDWWKHGDWDLQWKHDUHDRI

ZULWWHQODQJXDJHLVLQVXIILFLHQWWRGLDJQRVHDZULWWHQODQJXDJH ,QDQ\HYHQW'U)ODQDJDQ¶VH[FOXVLYHUHOLDQFHRQWKHWHVW

GLVRUGHU7KH1%0(GHQLHG*RQ]DOHV¶VUHTXHVWIRUH[WHQGHG UHVXOWVDQGUHSRUWVRI'UV8OUH\DQG*LRUGDQLLVWURXEOHVRPH

6KHUHDVRQHGWKDWEHFDXVH*RQ]DOHVSHUIRUPHGZHOORQWHVWV

WKDWPHDVXUHGKLVFRJQLWLYHVNLOOVDQGEHFDXVHLQGLYLGXDOV¶

FRJQLWLYH SURFHVVHV DUH ³WKH EHVW SUHGLFWRUV RI UHDGLQJ

DFKLHYHPHQW´*RQ]DOHV¶VUHDGLQJDFKLHYHPHQW³RXJKWWREH

Ulrey reported that on the verbal test Gonzales revealed "significant

strength in verbal conceptual ability on the vocabulary, comprehension ZLWKLQWKHDYHUDJHRUEHWWHUUDQJHRIDELOLW\´,DPXQDEOHWR

and similarities verbal tests." He showed "excellent judgement and DFFHSWWKLVUHDVRQLQJ

abstract reasoning on both comprehension and similarities." On the

performance test, he exhibited "significant strength in perceptual &RUUHODWLRQ LV WKH SUREDELOLW\ WKDW WZR IDFWRUV VXFK DV

organization as seen on both block design and object assembly," and he FRJQLWLYH DELOLW\ DQG UHDGLQJ DELOLW\ ZLOO DFFRPSDQ\ HDFK

demonstrated "effective problem solving strategies on both block design RWKHU$VWURQJSRVLWLYHFRUUHODWLRQEHWZHHQFRJQLWLYHDELOLW\

and object assembly where he was able to solve even the most abstract DQG UHDGLQJDELOLW\ZRXOGPHDQWKDWJLYHQDODUJHHQRXJK

designs with a high level of efficiency." On the achievement test, he had VDPSOHRISHRSOHZLWKVWURQJFRJQLWLYHDELOLW\DSUHGLFWDEO\

a "reading decoding standard score of 114, equivalent to the 82nd

percentile and a written language or spelling standard score of 102, ODUJHSHUFHQWDJHZRXOGDOVRKDYHVWURQJUHDGLQJDELOLW\%XW

equivalent to the 58th percentile. Performance on the arithmetic *RQ]DOHVLVDSHUVRQQRWDVDPSOH'U)ODQDJDQ¶VIDLOXUHWR

calculation with standard time resulted in a score of 108 equivalent to the H[DPLQHRUHYHQPHHWZLWK*RQ]DOHVOHDYHVKHUVWXFNZLWK

70th percentile and with 50% more time improved his performance to a UHO\LQJRQWKHDUJXPHQWWKDW*RQ]DOHV¶VUHDGLQJDELOLW\RXJKW

standard score of 138, equivalent to the 98th percentile." WR EH JRRG EHFDXVH PRVW SHRSOH ZLWK FRJQLWLYH DELOLW\ DV

VWURQJ DV *RQ]DOHV¶V DOVR KDYH JRRG UHDGLQJ DELOLW\ 7KLV

)ODQDJDQ LV D PHPEHU RI WKH $PHULFDQ 3V\FKRORJLFDO $VVRFLDWLRQ UHDVRQLQJFRQIOLFWVZLWKDQGOHDYHVXQH[SODLQHG*RQ]DOHV¶V

DQG WKH 1DWLRQDO $VVRFLDWLRQ RI 6FKRRO 3V\FKRORJLVWV

*RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG 1R 1R *RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG

RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV

'U )ODQDJDQ DOVR QHYHU UHYLHZHG *RQ]DOHV¶V VHFRQG RU WLPH VWDWLQJ KLV LPSDLUPHQW GLG QRW VLJQLILFDQWO\ LPSDLU D

WKLUG DSSOLFDWLRQV IRU WHVWLQJ DFFRPPRGDWLRQV ZKLOH WKRVH PDMRUOLIHDFWLYLW\ZLWKLQWKHIUDPHZRUNRIWKH$'$

DSSOLFDWLRQVZHUHDFWXDOO\SHQGLQJEHIRUHWKH1%0(HYHQ

WKRXJKWKHVXEMHFWRIWKHSUHVHQWOLWLJDWLRQZDV*RQ]DOHV¶V ,Q-XQHZKHQ*RQ]DOHVWRRNWKH6WHS([DPLQDWLRQ

WKLUGDSSOLFDWLRQIRUDFFRPPRGDWLRQV5DWKHUVKHUHYLHZHG ZLWKRXWDFFRPPRGDWLRQVKHIDLOHGWKHH[DPLQDWLRQ

WKHPRQO\IRUWKHSXUSRVHRIWHVWLI\LQJRQWKH1%0(¶VEHKDOI

LQ WKH SUHVHQW FDVH *RQ]DOHV¶V DWWRUQH\ LQ IDFW PDGH D )ROORZLQJLWVXVXDOSUDFWLFHWKH8006DOORZHG*RQ]DOHV

PRWLRQ LQ OLPLQH WR OLPLW 'U )ODQDJDQ¶V WHVWLPRQ\ WR WKH WREHJLQKLVWKLUG\HDUFOLQLFDOURWDWLRQVEHIRUHKHOHDUQHGWKH

VXEMHFWRIKHULQLWLDOUHSRUWLQZKLFKVKHFULWLFL]HG'U8OUH\¶V UHVXOWVRIKLV-XQH6WHS([DPLQDWLRQ:KHQ*RQ]DOHV

UHSRUW 7KH GLVWULFW FRXUW GHQLHG WKH PRWLRQ VWDWLQJ WKDW OHDUQHGWKDWKHKDGIDLOHGWKHH[DPLQDWLRQKHKDGFRPSOHWHG

³>W@KLVLVPHUHO\DKHDULQJQRWDWULDO´ RQHPRQWKRIDWKUHHPRQWKVXUJLFDOURWDWLRQ*RQ]DOHVFKRVH

WR WDNH D OHDYH RI DEVHQFH WR SUHSDUH WR UHWDNH WKH 6WHS

$FWXDOO\EHFDXVHWKH³SUHOLPLQDU\´LQMXQFWLYHUHOLHIWKDW ([DPLQDWLRQ

WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW GHQLHG ZDV WKH OLRQ¶V VKDUH RI WKH UHOLHI

*RQ]DOHVZDVVHHNLQJLQWKLVDFWLRQ,EHOLHYHWKDWWKHGLVWULFW %HIRUH VXEPLWWLQJ D UHTXHVW IRU H[WHQGHG WLPH RQ WKH

FRXUWVKRXOGKDYHFRQVLGHUHGPRUHFDUHIXOO\ZKDWHYLGHQFH 2FWREHU6WHS([DPLQDWLRQ*RQ]DOHVFRQVXOWHG%UXQR

ZRXOG KDYH EHHQ FRQVLGHUHG FRPSHWHQW DQG DGPLVVLEOH DW *LRUGDQL³*LRUGDQL´3K'*LRUGDQLGLDJQRVHG*RQ]DOHV

WULDO6HH$&+$5/(6 $/$1 :5,*+7 $57+85 5 0,//(5 DVKDYLQJDOHDUQLQJGLVDELOLW\*LRUGDQLEDVHGKLVGLDJQRVLV

0$5< .$< .$1( )('(5$/ 35$&7,&( $1' 352&('85( RQ*RQ]DOHV¶VKLVWRU\DQGRQIRUPDOWHVWLQJDQGFRQFOXGHG

SG&LU 6XSSQRWLQJWKDWZKHQ WKDW*RQ]DOHVPHWWKHFULWHULDIRU5HDGLQJ'LVRUGHU

WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW FRQVROLGDWHV WKH PRWLRQ IRU SUHOLPLQDU\ DQG IRU 'LVRUGHU RI :ULWWHQ ([SUHVVLRQ *LRUGDQL

LQMXQFWLYHUHOLHIZLWKWKHWULDORQWKHPHULWV³LQJHQHUDOWKH DOVR IRXQG VWUHQJWKV LQ *RQ]DOHV¶V DELOLWLHV *LRUGDQL

HYLGHQWLDU\UXOHVDSSOLFDEOHWRWULDOVKRXOGJRYHUQGXULQJD

FRQVROLGDWHGKHDULQJ´EHFDXVHWKHKHDULQJ³UHDOO\LVDWULDORQ

WKHPHULWV´

*LRUGDQL LV DQ $VVRFLDWH 3URIHVVRU RI 3V\FKRORJ\ LQ 3V\FKLDWU\

$OWKRXJKLWDSSHDUVGRXEWIXOWKDWSULYDWHSODLQWLIIVVXLQJ 'LUHFWRU RI WKH 1HXURSV\FKRORJ\ &OLQLF DQG $VVRFLDWH 'LUHFWRU RI WKH

XQGHU7LWOH,,,RIWKH$'$DUHHQWLWOHGWRDMXU\WULDOVHH 1HXURSV\FKRORJ\ 'LYLVLRQ 8QLYHUVLW\ RI 0LFKLJDQ *LRUGDQL LV QRW

86&DSSDUHQWO\DXWKRUL]LQJRQO\LQMXQFWLYHUHOLHI ERDUG FHUWLILHG

$VVRFLDWLRQ

LQ QHXURSV\FKRORJ\ E\ WKH $PHULFDQ 3V\FKRORJLFDO

DQG DWWRUQH\¶V IHHV LQ 7LWOH ,,, VXLWV EURXJKW E\ SULYDWH

SODLQWLIIV$EERWWY%UDJGRQ)6XSS'0H

7KH 1HXURSV\FKRORJ\ 'LYLVLRQ DGPLQLVWHUHG WKH IROORZLQJ

VXJJHVWLQJWKDWWKHUHLVQRULJKWWRDWULDOE\MXU\LQ DVVHVVPHQW SURFHGXUHV WR *RQ]DOHV :HFKVOHU $GXOW ,QWHOOLJHQFH 6FDOH

SULYDWHSODLQWLIIV¶VXLWVXQGHU7LWOH,,,WKHGLVWULFWFRXUWLV 7KLUG (GLWLRQ :$,6,,, :RRGFRFN-RKQVRQ 7HVWV RI $FKLHYHPHQW

VWLOOUHTXLUHGWRUHO\RQO\RQDGPLVVLEOHDQGUHOLDEOHH[SHUW 5HYLVHG :-5 :RRGFRFN 5HDGLQJ 0DVWHU\ 7HVWV ± 5HYLVHG )RUP *

WHVWLPRQ\HYHQZKLOHFRQGXFWLQJDEHQFKWULDO7KLVLVWUXH :507518 1HOVRQ'HQQ\ 5HDGLQJ 7HVW 1' +DOVWHDG5HLWDQ

1HXURSV\FKRORJLFDO 7HVW %DWWHU\ DQG $OOLHG 3URFHGXUHV :HFKVOHU

HYHQ WKRXJK GLVWULFW FRXUWV FRQGXFWLQJ EHQFK WULDOV KDYH 0HPRU\ 6FDOH ± 5HYLVHG :065 7HVW RI 9DULDEOHV RI $WWHQWLRQ

VXEVWDQWLDOIOH[LELOLW\LQDGPLWWLQJSURIIHUHGH[SHUWWHVWLPRQ\ 729$ $WWHQWLRQDO &DSDFLW\ 7HVWV $&7 'LJLW 9LJLODQFH 7HVW

DWWKHIURQWHQGDQGWKHQGHFLGLQJIRUWKHPVHOYHVGXULQJWKH 0LQQHVRWD 0XOWLSKDVLF 3HUVRQDOLW\ ,QYHQWRU\ ± Z 003, 3DWLHQW

FRXUVHRIWULDOZKHWKHUWKHHYLGHQFHPHHWVWKHUHTXLUHPHQWV +LVWRU\ ,QWHUYLHZ 7KH WHVWV ZHUH DGPLQLVWHUHG E\ /LVD 3URYRVW D

0DVWHU¶V /HYHO OLFHQVH SV\FKRORJLVW

*RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG 1R 1R *RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG

RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV

UHSRUWHGWKDW*RQ]DOHV³VFRUHGZLWKLQWKHDYHUDJHWRVXSHULRU WRPDNLQJDFRPSHWHQWGLDJQRVLVRIDOHDUQLQJGLVDELOLW\6HH

UDQJHV´ RQ WKH LQWHOOLJHQFH WHVW ³ZLWK D PDUNHG GLIIHUHQFH '60,9S[[LLL³7KHVSHFLILFGLDJQRVWLFFULWHULDLQFOXGHG

EHWZHHQWKH9HUEDODQG3HUIRUPDQFHVXEVFDOHVRISRLQWV LQ'60,9DUHPHDQWWRVHUYHDVJXLGHOLQHVWREHLQIRUPHGE\

9HUEDO,4 3HUIRUPDQFH,4 )XOO6FDOH,4 FOLQLFDOMXGJPHQWDQGDUHQRWPHDQWWREHXVHGLQDFRRNERRN

´ *LRUGDQL FRPSDUHG *RQ]DOHV¶V UHDGLQJ VFRUHV WR IDVKLRQ´,QRWKHUFRQWH[WVZHDFFRUGVXEVWDQWLDOGHIHUHQFH

WKRVHRIIRXUWK\HDUFROOHJHVWXGHQWVDQGWRFROOHJHJUDGXDWHV WR WKH PHGLFDO RSLQLRQV RI WUHDWLQJ SK\VLFLDQV 6HH HJ

2Q UHDGLQJ FRPSUHKHQVLRQ WHVWV ZKHUH *RQ]DOHV¶V VFRUHV :DONHUY6HF¶\RI+HDOWK +XPDQ6YFV)G

ZHUHFRPSDUHGWRWKRVHRIWKHJHQHUDOSRSXODWLRQ*LRUGDQL WK&LUVRFLDOVHFXULW\GLVDELOLW\EHQHILWVFDVH

UHSRUWHG WKDW *RQ]DOHV VFRUHG ZLWKLQ WKH DYHUDJH UDQJH 7KH VDPH VKRXOG EH WUXH IRU WKH RSLQLRQ RI DQ H[DPLQLQJ

1RQHWKHOHVV *LRUGDQL VXSSRUWHG WKH PHGLFDO VFKRRO¶V SV\FKRORJLVW ZKR KDV GLDJQRVHG D GLVRUGHU WKDW FDQQRW EH

GHFLVLRQWRJUDQW*RQ]DOHVH[WUDWLPHRQH[DPVDQGDGGLWLRQDO UHOLDEO\GHWHFWHGWKURXJKWHVWVFRUHVDORQH

DFFRPPRGDWLRQVDQGUHFRPPHQGHGWKDW³WKLVDFFRPPRGDWLRQ

EHH[WHQGHGWRRWKHUVHWWLQJV´ 'U)ODQDJDQFRQFHGHGWKDWVKHGLGQRWGLDJQRVH*RQ]DOHV

6KH H[SODLQHG WKDW VKH LV DQ DFDGHPLFLDQ QRW D FOLQLFDO

*RQ]DOHVSUHVHQWHG*LRUGDQL¶VUHSRUWZLWKKLVUHTXHVWIRU SV\FKRORJLVW FRPSHWHQW WR GLDJQRVH OHDUQLQJ GLVDELOLWLHV LQ

H[WHQGHGWLPHRQWKH2FWREHU6WHS([DPLQDWLRQ7KH VSHFLILFLQGLYLGXDOV,QVWHDGKHURSLQLRQZDVEDVHGVROHO\RQ

1%0(GLGQRWPHHWZLWKRULQWHUYLHZ*RQ]DOHV5DWKHULW VHFRQGJXHVVLQJWKHFRQFOXVLRQVUHDFKHGE\'UV8OUH\DQG

VHQWWKHGRFXPHQWDWLRQ*RQ]DOHVVXEPLWWHGZLWKKLVUHTXHVW *LRUGDQLZKRKDGH[DPLQHG*RQ]DOHV

IRU DFFRPPRGDWLRQV WR DQ H[SHUW LQ WKH ILHOG RI OHDUQLQJ

GLVDELOLWLHV *HRUJH /LWFKILHOG 3K' ZKR UHYLHZHG WKH ,Q SDUWLFXODU 'U )ODQDJDQ WHVWLILHG WKDW EDVHG RQ KHU

PDWHULDOV DQG LVVXHG D UHSRUW $JDLQ WKH 1%0( GHQLHG UHYLHZRIWKHGDWDVXEPLWWHGWRWKH1%0(E\'UV8OUH\DQG

*LRUGDQL VKH FRXOG ILQG ³DEVROXWHO\ QR HYLGHQFH´ RI DQ

LPSDLUPHQW 6KH DOVR WHVWLILHG KRZHYHU WKDW KHU

PHWKRGRORJ\ IRU DVVHVVLQJ ZKHWKHU SHUVRQV KDYH OHDUQLQJ

Giordani reported that Gonzales’s scores on the Wechsler subtests GLVDELOLWLHVZDVRQO\D³WKHRUHWLFDOPRGHOWKDWKDVQRWEHHQ

ranged from "borderline impaired to superior." On academic achievement VXEMHFWHGWRULJRURXVHPSLULFDODQDO\VLVIRUWKHSXUSRVHVRI

tests, Gonzales scored "within the above average to superior range" in

mathematics "when solving basic written calculations, though his

GLDJQRVLVDQGWUHDWPHQW´7KLVOHDGVPHWRTXHVWLRQZKHWKHU

performance with word problems and related tasks fell somewhat lower KHUWHVWLPRQ\ZRXOGVDWLVI\WKH³JDWHNHHSHU´UHTXLUHPHQWVRI

and in the average to above average ranges." In cognitive skills, .XPKR 7LUH &R Y &DUPLFKDHO 86 DQG

Gonzales demonstrated excellent performance on a conceptual problem 'DXEHUWY0HUUHOO'RZ3KDUPDFHXWLFDOV,QF86

solving task requiring general mental flexibility and efficiently [sic] in )XUWKHUPRUH WR WKH H[WHQW 'U )ODQDJDQ

adapting one’s responses based on feedback from the environment FRQFOXGHGWKDWWKHUHZDVQRLQGLFDWLRQWKDW*RQ]DOHVKDGDQ\

(Category Test)." OHDUQLQJ GLVDELOLW\ WKDW FRQFOXVLRQ ZDV QRW VKDUHG E\ 'U

/LWFKIRUGWKH1%0(¶VRWKHUH[SHUWZLWQHVV'U/LWFKIRUG

/LWFKIRUG LV D FOLQLFDO SV\FKRORJLVW +H LV D GLSORPDW LQ FOLQLFDO WHVWLILHG WKDW WKH UHVXOWV RI WKH WHVWV DGPLQLVWHUHG E\ 'U

SV\FKRORJ\ LQ WKH 6WDWH RI 1HZ <RUN DQG LV D FHUWLILHG VFKRRO

SV\FKRORJLVW LQ WKH 6DWH RI 1HZ <RUN 'U /LWFKIRUG LV DOVR DQ DSSURYHG

*LRUGDQLVXSSRUWHGDILQGLQJRIDZULWLQJGLVRUGHUDOWKRXJK

QHXURSV\FKRORJLFDO H[DPLQHU ZKR SHUIRUPV FHUWDLQ FHUWLILFDWLRQ UHYLHZV 'U/LWFKIRUGRSLQHGWKDWKHGLGQRWEHOLHYHWKDWSHUIRUPDQFH

IRU WKH 2IILFH RI 'LVDELOLWLHV DW 1HZ <RUN 6WDWH +H KROGV D 'LUHFWRUVKLS RQWKH1%0(ZRXOGEHDIIHFWHGE\DZULWLQJGLVDELOLW\

RI 3V\FKRORJLFDO 6HUYLFHV LQ WKH 3V\FKRORJ\ 'HSDUWPHQW DW WKH 6WDWH

8QLYHUVLW\ RI 1HZ <RUN

*RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG 1R 1R *RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG

RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV

,QSODLQDOWKRXJKDGPLWWHGO\XQVFLHQWLILFWHUPV*RQ]DOHV¶V *RQ]DOHV¶VUHTXHVWIRUDFFRPPRGDWLRQV,Q2FWREHU

FODLPLVWKDWWKHSDUWRIKLVEUDLQUHVSRQVLEOHIRUGHFRGLQJ *RQ]DOHVWRRNWKHH[DPLQDWLRQZLWKRXWDFFRPPRGDWLRQVDQG

ZULWWHQ ODQJXDJH LV QRW ZLUHG WKH VDPH DV DQG IXQFWLRQV IDLOHG

VXEVWDQWLDOO\ ZRUVH WKDQ WKDW RI WKH DYHUDJH SHUVRQ HYHQ

WKRXJKLQRWKHUUHVSHFWVKLVPHQWDOIDFXOWLHVDUHVLJQLILFDQWO\ *RQ]DOHVDSSOLHGWRWDNHWKH6WHS([DPLQDWLRQDWKLUG

EHWWHUWKDQDYHUDJH,IGHVSLWHWKLVIDXOW\³ZLULQJ´*RQ]DOHV WLPHDQGGRFXPHQWHGKLVUHTXHVWIRUDFFRPPRGDWLRQV$WWKH

KDG EHHQ DEOH WR DGDSW VR WKDW KLV DELOLW\ WR UHDG ZDV UHTXHVWRIWKH1%0(/LWFKILHOGUHYLHZHGWKHPDWHULDODQG

VXEVWDQWLDOO\QRZRUVHWKDQWKDWRIWKHDYHUDJHSHUVRQWKHQ LVVXHG D UHSRUW 7KH 1%0( GHQLHG KLV UHTXHVW IRU

*RQ]DOHVZRXOGQRWEHFRQVLGHUHGWRKDYHDUHDGLQJGLVDELOLW\ DFFRPPRGDWLRQV

XQGHU .LUNLQJEXUJ¶V UDWLRQDOH %XW WKDW LV QRW *RQ]DOHV¶V

FODLP 5DWKHU *RQ]DOHV KDV DVVHUWHG WKDW GHVSLWH KLV EHVW %HIRUHWDNLQJWKH6WHS([DPLQDWLRQDWKLUGWLPHZLWKRXW

HIIRUWVWRZRUNDURXQGKLVSUREOHPKHLVVWLOOQRWDEOHWRUHDG DFFRPPRGDWLRQV *RQ]DOHV ILOHG DQ DFWLRQ LQ IHGHUDO FRXUW

QHDUO\DVZHOODVWKHDYHUDJHSHUVRQ,GRQRWEHOLHYHWKDW XQGHUWKH$'$DOOHJLQJWKDWWKH1%0(LOOHJDOO\UHIXVHGWR

ZRUNLQJDURXQGDUHDGLQJLPSDLUPHQWE\SXUVXLQJVWUDWHJLHV DFFRPPRGDWH KLV GLVDELOLW\ E\ IDLOLQJ WR SURYLGH KLP ZLWK

LQVFKRROWKDWPLQLPL]HWKHQHFHVVLW\IRUUHDGLQJLVWKHW\SHRI DGGLWLRQDOWLPHWRWDNHWKH860/(6WHS*RQ]DOH]VRXJKW

VHOIDFFRPPRGDWLRQ WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW KDG LQ PLQG LQ LQWHU DOLD LQMXQFWLYH UHOLHI UHTXLULQJ WKH 1%0( WR DOORZ

0XUSK\6XWWRQRU.LUNLQJEXUJ H[WHQGHGWLPHRQWKH6WHS([DPLQDWLRQ

,, $IWHU D IRXUGD\ HYLGHQWLDU\ KHDULQJ WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW

GHQLHG*RQ]DOHV¶VUHTXHVWIRULQMXQFWLYHUHOLHIILQGLQJWKDW

,QDGGLWLRQWKHGLVWULFWFRXUW¶VFRQFOXVLRQWKDW*RQ]DOHV WKHUH ZDV QR VXEVWDQWLDO OLNHOLKRRG WKDW *RQ]DOHV ZRXOG

KDG QR VXEVWDQWLDO OLNHOLKRRG RI VXFFHVV RQ WKH PHULWV LV VXFFHHGRQKLV$'$FODLPEHFDXVH*RQ]DOHVLVQRWGLVDEOHG

VHULRXVO\ IODZHG EHFDXVH LW LV EDVHG RQ WKH ILQGLQJ WKDW XQGHUWKH$'$7KHGLVWULFWFRXUWUHMHFWHG*RQ]DOHV¶VFODLP

*RQ]DOHVGRHVQRWKDYHDGLVDELOLW\ZLWKLQWKHPHDQLQJRIWKH WKDWKHLVGLVDEOHGLQWKHPDMRUOLIHDFWLYLWLHVRIUHDGLQJDQG

$'$,GRQRWEHOLHYHWKDWWKLVILQGLQJLVVXSSRUWHGE\WKH ZULWLQJ7KHGLVWULFWFRXUWFUHGLWHGWKH1%0(¶VH[SHUWVZKR

UHFRUGEHIRUHXV RSLQHGWKDW*RQ]DOHV³GRHVQRWKDYHDGRFXPHQWHGKLVWRU\RI

DFDGHPLFDFKLHYHPHQWEHORZH[SHFWDWLRQVWKDWZRXOGVXSSRUW

2I WKH H[SHUWV ZKR WHVWLILHG RU VXEPLWWHG UHSRUWV WR WKH D GLDJQRVLV RI D OHDUQLQJ GLVDELOLW\´ %DVHG RQ WKHLU

GLVWULFWFRXUWWKHRQO\WZRZKRHYHUPHW*RQ]DOHVZHUH'UV WHVWLPRQ\ WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW IRXQG WKDW ³3ODLQWLII¶V

8OUH\DQG*LRUGDQL7KH\ERWKFRQFOXGHGWKDWKHKDGDYHU\ SHUIRUPDQFHLQERWKUHDGLQJDQGZULWLQJWHVWVIHOOZLWKLQWKH

VLJQLILFDQWUHDGLQJGLVDELOLW\7KHRQO\H[SHUWZKRRSLQHG DYHUDJHWRVXSHULRUUDQJHZKHQFRPSDUHGWRPRVWSHRSOH´

WKDW *RQ]DOHV GLG QRW KDYH D GLVDELOLW\ RU DW OHDVW KDG QRW 7KHGLVWULFWFRXUWDOVRKHOGWKDWKHZDVQRWGLVDEOHGLQWKH

VDWLVILHGKHUWKDWKHKDGDGLVDELOLW\ZDV'U)ODQDJDQ<HW PDMRUOLIHDFWLYLW\RIZRUNLQJ

'U )ODQDJDQ QHYHU H[DPLQHG RU HYHQ PHW ZLWK *RQ]DOHV

HYHQWKRXJKXQGHUWKHJXLGHOLQHVVHWIRUWKE\WKH$PHULFDQ

3V\FKLDWULF,QVWLWXWH¶V'LDJQRVWLFDQG6WDWLVWLFDO0DQXDORI

0HQWDO'LVRUGHUV'60,9WKHGZKLFKWKH1%0(

DFFHSWV DV WKH DSSURSULDWH FULWHULD IRU GLDJQRVLQJ OHDUQLQJ

After the district court denied his request for injunctive relief,

GLVDELOLWLHVDQLQWHUYLHZRUFOLQLFDOH[DPLQDWLRQLVHVVHQWLDO Gonzales took the Step 1 Examination a third time without

accommodation and again failed.

*RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG 1R 1R *RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG

RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV

*RQ]DOHVDSSHDOVDUJXLQJWKDWWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWHUUHGLQ FRPSXWHU²EXWZLWKRXWDQ\IRUPDODFFRPPRGDWLRQIURPWKH

KROGLQJWKDWKHKDVQROLNHOLKRRGRIVXFFHVVRIHVWDEOLVKLQJ VFKRRO²ZRXOGQRWEHFRQVLGHUHG³GLVDEOHG´IRUWKHSXUSRVHV

WKDWKHKDVDUHDGLQJGLVDELOLW\XQGHUWKH$'$6HFRQGKH RI WKH $'$ 6LPLODUO\ LI D VWXGHQW ZLWK VHYHUH UHDGLQJ

FODLPV WKDW WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW IDLOHG WR DGGUHVV KLV ZULWLQJ GLIILFXOWLHV FDQ JHW UHDVRQDEO\ KLJK PDUNV LQ VFKRRO HYHQ

GLVDELOLW\7KLUG*RQ]DOHVIDXOWVWKHGLVWULFWFRXUW¶VKROGLQJ WKRXJKLWWDNHVKLPWKUHHWLPHVDVORQJDVWKHDYHUDJHSHUVRQ

WKDWKHGRHVQRWKDYHDGLVDELOLW\WKDWDIIHFWVWKHPDMRUOLIH WR UHDG WKH UHTXLUHG FRXUVH PDWHULDOV LW ZRXOG PDNH OLWWOH

DFWLYLW\RIZRUNLQJ VHQVHWRVD\WKDWKHGRHVQRWKDYHDGLVDELOLW\LQUHDGLQJ2QH

PLJKWVD\WKDWKHLVRYHUFRPLQJKLVGLVDELOLW\DVIDUDVJHWWLQJ

,,',6&866,21 JRRG JUDGHV LV FRQFHUQHG EXW KLV PHWKRG RU PDQQHU RI

UHDGLQJZRXOGVWLOOEHVXEVWDQWLDOO\OLPLWHGDVFRPSDUHGWRWKH

$6WDQGDUGRI5HYLHZ DYHUDJHSHUVRQ

7KH $'$ LQFOXGHV LQMXQFWLYH UHOLHI DV DQ DSSURSULDWH ,UHFRJQL]HWKDWWKH6XSUHPH&RXUWLQLWVWULORJ\RI

UHPHG\ LQ GLVDELOLW\ GLVFULPLQDWLRQ 6HH 86&$ $'$FDVHV0XUSK\Y8QLWHG3DUFHO6HUYLFH,QF86

D:HVWLQFRUSRUDWLQJWKHSURYLVLRQVRI 6XWWRQY8QLWHG$LU/LQHV,QF86

7LWOH9,,RIWKH&LYLO5LJKWV$FWRI86&D DQG$OEHUWVRQ¶V,QFY.LUNLQJEXUJ86

:HUHYLHZDGHQLDORIDSUHOLPLQDU\LQMXQFWLRQIRUDEXVH EURDGO\ KHOG WKDW DQ LQGLYLGXDO¶V DELOLW\ WR VHOI

RIGLVFUHWLRQDQGDIIRUGJUHDWGHIHUHQFHWRWKHGLVWULFWFRXUW¶V DFFRPPRGDWHRUVHOIFRUUHFWWKURXJKPHGLFDWLRQRUWUHDWPHQW

GHFLVLRQ6HH%OXH&URVV %OXH6KLHOG0XWRI2KLRY%OXH PXVWEHWDNHQLQWRDFFRXQWLQDVFHUWDLQLQJZKHWKHUWKDWSHUVRQ

&URVV DQG %OXH 6KLHOG $VV¶Q )G WK &LU LV³GLVDEOHG´ZLWKLQWKHPHDQLQJRIWKH$'$7KH6XSUHPH

:HZLOOUHYHUVHDGLVWULFWFRXUW¶VGHQLDORILQMXQFWLYH &RXUW WKXV KHOG WKDW D K\SHUWHQVLYH PHFKDQLF ZKRVH KLJK

UHOLHIRQO\LI³WKHGLVWULFWFRXUWUHOLHGXSRQFOHDUO\HUURQHRXV EORRG SUHVVXUH ZDV FRQWUROOHG E\ PHGLFDWLRQ ZDV QRW

ILQGLQJV RI IDFW LPSURSHUO\ DSSOLHG WKH JRYHUQLQJ ODZ RU GLVDEOHGVHH0XUSK\86DWDQGWKDWVHYHUHO\

XVHGDQHUURQHRXVOHJDOVWDQGDUG´,G P\RSLFSURVSHFWLYHDLUOLQHSLORWVZKRVHH\HVLJKWZLWKJODVVHV

ZDVQRUPDOZHUHDOVRQRWGLVDEOHGVHH6XWWRQ86DW

'LVWULFWFRXUWVDVVHVVIRXUIDFWRUVLQDQDO\]LQJDSUHOLPLQDU\

LQMXQFWLRQ LVVXH ZKHWKHU WKH SODLQWLII KDV D VWURQJ

OLNHOLKRRG RI VXFFHHGLQJ RQ WKH PHULWV ZKHWKHU WKH 1RWDEO\ WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW DOVR KHOG WKDW D WUXFNGULYHU

SODLQWLIIZLOOVXIIHULUUHSDUDEOHLQMXU\DEVHQWWKHLQMXQFWLRQ ZLWKDPEO\RSLDDQXQFRUUHFWDEOHFRQGLWLRQWKDWHVVHQWLDOO\

ZKHWKHULVVXLQJWKHLQMXQFWLRQZLOOFDXVHVXEVWDQWLDOKDUP OHIWKLPZLWKVLJKWLQRQO\RQHH\HPLJKWQRWEH³GLVDEOHG´

WRRWKHUVDQGZKHWKHUWKHSXEOLFLQWHUHVWZLOOEHIXUWKHUHG IRUWKHSXUSRVHVRIWKH$'$LIKLVEUDLQDQGERG\KDGDGDSWHG

E\WKHLVVXDQFHRIWKHLQMXQFWLRQ6HHLG$OWKRXJKQRRQH VXIILFLHQWO\ VR WKDW KLV DELOLW\ WR VHH ZDV QRW VXEVWDQWLDOO\

IDFWRU LV FRQWUROOLQJ D ILQGLQJ WKDW WKHUH LV VLPSO\ QR LPSDLUHG LQ FRPSDULVRQ WR WKH DYHUDJH SHUVRQ 6HH

OLNHOLKRRG RI VXFFHVV RQ WKH PHULWV LV XVXDOO\ IDWDO 6HH .LUNLQJEXUJ86DW7KHPDMRULW\¶VDQDO\VLVLQ

0LFKLJDQ6WDWH$)/&,2Y0LOOHU)GWK WKH SUHVHQW FDVH UHOLHV RQ .LUNLQJEXUJ UHDVRQLQJ WKDW

&LU *RQ]DOHV KDV OHDUQHG WR VHOIDFFRPPRGDWH LQ D VLPLODU

IDVKLRQ,UHVSHFWIXOO\GLVDJUHH

*RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG 1R 1R *RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG

RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV

³>5@HDGLQJLWVHOILVDPDMRUOLIHDFWLYLW\LQGHSHQGHQWRIWKH %0HULWV

PDMRU OLIH DFWLYLW\ RI VHHLQJ´ EXW VHH +LOHPDQ Y &LW\ RI

'DOODV )G Q WK &LU H[SUHVVLQJ 7LWOH ,,, RI WKH $'$ SURKLELWV GLVFULPLQDWLRQ DJDLQVW

GRXEWWKDWUHDGLQJLVD³PDMRUOLIHDFWLYLW\´IRUSXUSRVHVRIWKH SHUVRQVZLWKGLVDELOLWLHVLQSURIHVVLRQDOH[DPLQDWLRQVVXFKDV

5HKDELOLWDWLRQ$FW WKH860/(6WHS

*RQ]DOHV¶V UHDVRQDEO\ JRRG SHUIRUPDQFH LQ KLJK VFKRRO $Q\ SHUVRQ WKDW RIIHUV H[DPLQDWLRQV UHODWHG WR

DQGKLVILUVWWZR\HDUVRIFROOHJHGRHVQRWIRUHFORVHDILQGLQJ DSSOLFDWLRQVOLFHQVLQJFHUWLILFDWLRQRUFUHGHQWLDOLQJIRU

WKDWKHKDVDUHDGLQJGLVDELOLW\&I$QGUHZ:HLV-XPSLQJWR SURIHVVLRQDO RU WUDGH SXUSRVHV VKDOO RIIHU VXFK

&RQFOXVLRQVLQ³-XPSLQJWKH4XHXH´6% / 5' H[DPLQDWLRQV LQ D SODFH DQG PDQQHU DFFHVVLEOH WR

ERRNUHYLHZREVHUYLQJWKDWOHDUQLQJGLVDEOHG SHUVRQVZLWKGLVDELOLWLHVRURIIHUDOWHUQDWLYHDFFHVVLEOH

VWXGHQWVRIWHQDUHFDXJKWLQD³&DWFK´VLWXDWLRQLQWKDW³LI DUUDQJHPHQWVIRUVXFKLQGLYLGXDOV

ZHH[FHOLQVRPHWDVNVWKHQZHPXVWQRWSRVVHVVDGLVDELOLW\

EXW LI ZH IDLO LQ RWKHU DUHDV WKHQ ZH PXVW EH MXVW OD]\ 86&$ :HVW 7KH '2- UHJXODWLRQV

FDUHOHVV RU LQDWWHQWLYH´ ,QGHHG *RQ]DOHV RIIHUHG D SURYLGH WKDW DQ H[DPLQDWLRQ FRYHUHG E\ WKLV VHFWLRQ EH

SODXVLEOHH[SODQDWLRQIRUKRZKHZDVDEOHWRJHWJRRGJUDGHV VHOHFWHG DQG DGPLQLVWHUHG WR DFFXUDWHO\ UHIOHFW WKH

ZLWKRXW IRUPDO DFFRPPRGDWLRQV GHVSLWH KDYLQJ D VHYHUH LQGLYLGXDO¶VDSWLWXGH RU DFKLHYHPHQW OHYHO UDWKHU WKDQ KLV

UHDGLQJ GLVDELOLW\ +H WHVWLILHG WKDW KH UHFHLYHG YHU\ LPSDLUPHQW

VLJQLILFDQWLQIRUPDODFFRPPRGDWLRQVLQKLJKVFKRROHJKLV

WHDFKHUVSHUPLWWHGKLPWRUHGRXQVDWLVIDFWRU\DVVLJQPHQWVDQG $FRYHUHGHQWLW\GLVFULPLQDWHVDJDLQVWDGLVDEOHGLQGLYLGXDO

WXUQLQXQWLPHGH[WUDFUHGLWSURMHFWV*RQ]DOHVDOVRWHVWLILHG ZKHQLWIDLOVWRPDNH³UHDVRQDEOHDFFRPPRGDWLRQVWRNQRZQ

WKDWLQFROOHJHKHZDVDEOHWRJHWIDLUO\JRRGJUDGHVZLWKRXW SK\VLFDORUPHQWDOOLPLWDWLRQV´86&E$

IRUPDODFFRPPRGDWLRQVVLPSO\E\HPSOR\LQJVWUDWHJLHVWKDW 7KHUHJXODWLRQVLPSOHPHQWLQJ7LWOH,,,RIWKH$'$IXUWKHU

DOORZHG KLP WR JHW E\ ZKLOH GRLQJ WKH EDUH PLQLPXP RI FODULI\WKDWVXFKDFFRPPRGDWLRQV³PD\LQFOXGHFKDQJHVLQ

UHDGLQJIRUH[DPSOHE\WDSHUHFRUGLQJOHFWXUHVDQGKDYLQJ

KLV IULHQGV UHDG WKHLU OHFWXUH QRWHV WR KLP ,I JHWWLQJ

UHDVRQDEO\JRRGJUDGHVZHUHWKHERWWRPOLQHWKHQ,ZRXOG

DJUHHWKDW*RQ]DOHVLVQRWGLVDEOHG*RQ]DOHVDIWHUDOOLV

FOHDUO\QRWVXEVWDQWLDOO\ZRUVH RII WKDQWKHDYHUDJHSHUVRQ 7KH UHOHYDQW LPSOHPHQWLQJ UHJXODWLRQ SURPXOJDWHG E\ WKH '2-

ZKHQLWFRPHVWRJHWWLQJUHDVRQDEO\JRRGJUDGHV XQGHU 7LWOH ,,, VWDWHV WKDW

>$@Q H[DPLQDWLRQ FRYHUHG E\ WKLV VHFWLRQ PXVW DVVXUH WKDW L

7KH H[DPLQDWLRQ LV VHOHFWHG DQG DGPLQLVWHUHG VR DV WR EHVW

%XWDSHUVRQ¶VDELOLW\WRJHWJRRGJUDGHVLVQRWWKHERWWRP HQVXUH WKDW ZKHQ WKH H[DPLQDWLRQ LV DGPLQLVWHUHG WR DQ

OLQH,ILWZHUHWKHQDVWXGHQW¶VDELOLW\WRDFKLHYHUHDVRQDEO\ LQGLYLGXDO ZLWK D GLVDELOLW\ WKDW LPSDLUV VHQVRU\ PDQXDO RU

KLJK PDUNV E\ ZKDWHYHU PHDQV ZLWKRXW IRUPDO VSHDNLQJ VNLOOV WKH H[DPLQDWLRQ UHVXOWV DFFXUDWHO\ UHIOHFW WKH

DFFRPPRGDWLRQV ZRXOG DV D SUDFWLFDO PDWWHU IRUHFORVH D LQGLYLGXDO¶V DSWLWXGH RU DFKLHYHPHQW OHYHO RU ZKDWHYHU RWKHU

IDFWRU WKH H[DPLQDWLRQ SXUSRUWV WR PHDVXUH UDWKHU WKDQ UHIOHFWLQJ

ILQGLQJWKDWKHKDVDUHDGLQJGLVDELOLW\²DFRQFOXVLRQWKDW, WKH LQGLYLGXDO¶V LPSDLUHG VHQVRU\ PDQXDO RU VSHDNLQJ VNLOOV

EHOLHYHLVLQFRUUHFW1RRQHIRUH[DPSOHZRXOGDUJXHWKDWD H[FHSW ZKHUH WKRVH VNLOOV DUH WKH IDFWRUV WKDW WKH H[DPLQDWLRQ

EOLQGVWXGHQWZKRLVDEOHWRJHWJRRGJUDGHVLQFROOHJHZLWK SXUSRUWV WR PHDVXUH>@

WKHKHOSRIIULHQGVDQGDQDSSURSULDWHO\FRQILJXUHGSHUVRQDO

&)5 EL

*RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG 1R 1R *RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG

RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV

WKH OHQJWK RI WLPH SHUPLWWHG IRU FRPSOHWLRQ RI WKH BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB

H[DPLQDWLRQ´&)5E

',66(17

7KH1%0(GRHVQRWGLVSXWHWKDWLWLVD³FRYHUHGHQWLW\´ BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB

XQGHU6XEVHFWLRQ,,,RIWKH$'$7KH1%0(DOVRGRHVQRW

FRQWHVWLWVREOLJDWLRQWRSURYLGHUHDVRQDEOHDFFRPPRGDWLRQV 521$/' /(( *,/0$1 &LUFXLW -XGJH GLVVHQWLQJ

LQFOXGLQJ H[WUD WLPH WR WDNH WKH 6WHS LI D SHUVRQ KDV D *RQ]DOHVWHVWLILHGWKDWKHKDVJUHDWGLIILFXOW\UHDGLQJKLJKZD\

GLVDELOLW\ ,Q IDFW WKH 1%0(¶V RZQ SURFHGXUHV FOHDUO\ VLJQVZKLOHGULYLQJWKDWLQVWRUHVKHIHHOVFRPSHOOHGWRVLJQ

FRQWHPSODWHWKHDFFRPPRGDWLRQRILQGLYLGXDOVZLWKOHDUQLQJ FUHGLWFDUGUHFHLSWVEOLQGO\EHFDXVHUHDGLQJWKHPZRXOGWDNH

GLVDELOLWLHV KLPVRORQJWKDWLWZRXOGPDNHRWKHUFXVWRPHUVDQJU\DQG

WKDWRQHRIKLVDWWRUQH\VKDGWRUHDGWRKLPOLQHE\OLQHWKH

7KXVWKHRQO\TXHVWLRQLQWKLVFDVHLVZKHWKHU*RQ]DOHVLV FRPSODLQWWKH\SUHSDUHGRQKLVEHKDOILQWKHSUHVHQWFDVHVR

GLVDEOHG ZLWKLQ WKH PHDQLQJ RI WKH $'$ $ SHUVRQ LV WKDWKHFRXOGXQGHUVWDQGLW$VVXPLQJWKDWKHZDVWHOOLQJWKH

GLVDEOHGZLWKLQWKHPHDQLQJRIWKH$'$LIWKDWLQGLYLGXDO WUXWKDQGWKHUHLVQRVXJJHVWLRQWRWKHFRQWUDU\WKHQ,FDQQRW

VXIIHUV IURP ³D SK\VLFDO RU PHQWDO LPSDLUPHQW WKDW XQGHUVWDQG ZK\ KH VKRXOG QRW EH FRQVLGHUHG ³GLVDEOHG´

VXEVWDQWLDOO\OLPLWVRQHRUPRUHRIWKHPDMRUOLIHDFWLYLWLHVRI ZLWKLQWKHPHDQLQJRIWKH$'$

VXFKLQGLYLGXDO´86&$$:HVW

7KH$'$GRHVQRWGHILQHWKHWHUPV³SK\VLFDORUPHQWDO

LPSDLUPHQW´³VXEVWDQWLDOO\OLPLWV´RU³PDMRUOLIHDFWLYLWLHV´ $ SULPDU\ EDVLV IRU WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW¶V FRQFOXVLRQ WKDW

DQGQRDJHQF\KDVEHHQJLYHQDXWKRULW\WRLVVXHUHJXODWLRQV *RQ]DOHVGRHVQRWKDYHDUHDGLQJGLVDELOLW\LVWKDWKHZDVDEOH

LPSOHPHQWLQJWKHJHQHUDOO\DSSOLFDEOHSURYLVLRQVRIWKH$'$ WRJHWUHDVRQDEO\JRRGJUDGHVWKURXJKKLVILUVWWZR\HDUVRI

6HH86&6XWWRQY8QLWHG$LU/LQHV FROOHJHDQGDFKLHYHDYHUDJHVWDQGDUGL]HGWHVWVFRUHVZLWKRXW

,QF 86 6 &W IRUPDOGLVDELOLW\DFFRPPRGDWLRQV,I*RQ]DOHV¶VFODLPZDV

+RZHYHUWKH'HSDUWPHQWRI-XVWLFH³'2-´ZKLFK&RQJUHVV WKDW ³JHWWLQJ UHDVRQDEO\ JRRG JUDGHV LQ VFKRRO´ DQG

DVVLJQHG WR ZULWH WKH UHJXODWLRQV IRU 6XEFKDSWHU ,,, RI WKH ³DFKLHYLQJDYHUDJHVWDQGDUGL]HGWHVWVFRUHV´ZHUHPDMRUOLIH

$'$GHILQHV³SK\VLFDORUPHQWDOLPSDLUPHQW´DVLQFOXGLQJ DFWLYLWLHV ZLWKLQ WKH PHDQLQJ RI WKH $'$ DQG WKDW WKRVH

³VSHFLILFOHDUQLQJGLVDELOLWLHV´&)5 DFWLYLWLHV ZHUH WKH RQHV LQ ZKLFK KH ZDV VXEVWDQWLDOO\

7KH1%0(GRHVQRWDSSHDUWRGLVSXWHWKDW*RQ]DOHVKDVD LPSDLUHGWKHGLVWULFWFRXUWPLJKWKDYHKDGDSRLQW%XWWKDW

PHQWDOLPSDLUPHQW ZDVQRWKLVFODLPDQGLQDQ\HYHQWJHWWLQJUHDVRQDEO\JRRG

JUDGHV LQ VFKRRO DQG DFKLHYLQJ DYHUDJH VWDQGDUGL]HG WHVW

7KH'2-¶VUHJXODWLRQVIXUWKHUGHILQH³PDMRUOLIHDFWLYLWLHV´ VFRUHVDUHQRWUHFRJQL]HGDV³PDMRUOLIHDFWLYLWLHV´,QVWHDG

DVLQFOXGLQJ³ZDONLQJVHHLQJKHDULQJVSHDNLQJEUHDWKLQJ *RQ]DOHVFODLPVWKDWKHLVGLVDEOHGLQWKHPDMRUOLIHDFWLYLW\

OHDUQLQJDQGZRUNLQJ´,GHPSKDVLVDGGHG RIUHDGLQJZKLFKWKH1%0(GRHVQRWGLVSXWHLVDPDMRUOLIH

7KHOLVWLVPHUHO\LOOXVWUDWLYHQRWH[KDXVWLYHKRZHYHUFI DFWLYLW\XQGHUWKH$'$6HHHJ%DUWOHWWY1HZ<RUN6WDWH

&HKUY1RUWKHDVW2KLR$O]KHLPHU¶V5HVHDUFK&WU)G %RDUGRI/DZ([DPLQHUV)GG&LU

WK&LU7LWOH,FRQWH[WDQGFRXUWVKDYH YDFDWHGRQRWKHUJURXQGV6&W6ZHHWY

LQFOXGHGUHDGLQJDQGZULWLQJDVPDMRUOLIHDFWLYLWLHVXQGHUWKH (OHFWURQLF 'DWD 6\VWHPV ,QF 1R &LY 0%0

$'$ 6HH HJ %DUWOHWW Y 1HZ <RUN 6WDWH %G RI /DZ :/ DW 6'1< $SU

*RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG 1R 1R *RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG

RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV

65HS *LYHQVXFKVFDQWVXSSRUWIRU ([DPLQHUV)6XSSDII¶G)GG&LU

*RQ]DOHV¶VSURSRVHGGHILQLWLRQRIVXEVWDQWLDOO\OLPLWHGLQWKH YDFDWHG6&WUHDGLQJDQGZULWLQJVHH

PDMRUOLIHDFWLYLW\RIZRUNLQJZHGHFOLQHWRDGRSWKLVYLHZ JHQHUDOO\%HUFRYLWFKY%DOGZLQ6FK,QF)G

VW&LUOHDUQLQJ,QDQ\HYHQWWKH1%0(GRHVQRW

7KHGLVWULFWFRXUWGLGQRWHUULQILQGLQJWKDW3ODLQWLIILVQRW GLVSXWHWKDWUHDGLQJDQGZULWLQJDUHVXEVWDQWLDOOLIHDFWLYLWLHV

GLVDEOHGLQWKHPDMRUOLIHDFWLYLW\RIZRUNLQJ

5DWKHU WKLV FDVH WXUQV RQ WKH NH\ SKUDVH ³VXEVWDQWLDOO\

,,,&21&/86,21 OLPLWV´³6XEVWDQWLDOO\OLPLWV´LVGHILQHGLQWHUPVRIDJHQHUDO

SRSXODWLRQ7KH'2-UHJXODWLRQVWDWHVWKDWDQLQGLYLGXDOLV

%HFDXVH ZH FRQFOXGH WKDW 3ODLQWLII KDV QR OLNHOLKRRG RI VXEVWDQWLDOO\ OLPLWHG ³ZKHQ WKH LQGLYLGXDO¶V LPSRUWDQW OLIH

VXFFHVVRQWKHPHULWVZHQHHGQRWFRQVLGHUZKHWKHUKHZRXOG DFWLYLWLHV DUH UHVWULFWHG DV WR WKH FRQGLWLRQ PDQQHU RU

RWKHUZLVHEHHQWLWOHGWRDSUHOLPLQDU\LQMXQFWLRQ GXUDWLRQXQGHUZKLFKWKH\FDQEHSHUIRUPHGLQFRPSDULVRQWR

PRVWSHRSOH´&)5SW$SS%VHHDOVR&)5

)RUWKHIRUHJRLQJUHDVRQVWKHGLVWULFWFRXUW¶VRUGHUGHQ\LQJ M((2&GHILQLWLRQXQGHU7LWOH,RI³VXEVWDQWLDOO\

LQMXQFWLYHUHOLHILV$)),50(' OLPLWV´ GHILQLQJ DQ LQGLYLGXDO DV VXEVWDQWLDOO\ OLPLWHG IRU

PRVW SXUSRVHV LI KH LV ³>X@QDEOH WR SHUIRUP D PDMRU OLIH

DFWLYLW\WKDWWKHDYHUDJHSHUVRQLQWKHJHQHUDOSRSXODWLRQFDQ

SHUIRUP´ RU ³>V@LJQLILFDQWO\ UHVWULFWHG DV WR WKH FRQGLWLRQ

PDQQHURUGXUDWLRQXQGHUZKLFKDQLQGLYLGXDOFDQSHUIRUPD

SDUWLFXODUPDMRUOLIHDFWLYLW\DVFRPSDUHGWR WKHFRQGLWLRQ

PDQQHURUGXUDWLRQXQGHUZKLFKWKHDYHUDJHSHUVRQLQWKH

JHQHUDO SRSXODWLRQ FDQ SHUIRUP WKDW VDPH PDMRU OLIH

DFWLYLW\´7KXVWKH$'$FRPSDUHVWKHSHUIRUPDQFHRIDQ

7KH 6HFRQG &LUFXLW¶V RSLQLRQ LQ %DUWOHWW ZDV YDFDWHG QRW UHYHUVHG

DQG WKH FDVH ZDV VHQW EDFN IRU IXUWKHU FRQVLGHUDWLRQ LQ OLJKW RI WKH

6XSUHPH &RXUW¶V UHFHQW GHFLVLRQV LQ 6XWWRQ Y 8QLWHG $LU /LQHV ,QF

86 6 &W 0XUSK\ Y 8QLWHG 3DUFHO 6HUY ,QF

86 6 &W DQG $OEHUWVRQV ,QF Y

$V DQ H[DPSOH WKH UHSRUW VWDWHV WKDW D SHUVRQ ZKR FDQ ZDON WHQ .LUNLQJEXUJ 86 6 &W 6LJQLILFDQWO\ WKH

PLOHV FRQWLQXRXVO\ EXW H[SHULHQFHV SDLQ RQ WKH HOHYHQWK PLOH LV QRW 6HFRQG &LUFXLW KDG UHYHUVHG WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW¶V KROGLQJ WKDW WKH SODLQWLII¶V

VXEVWDQWLDOO\ OLPLWHG LQ ZDONLQJ EHFDXVH PRVW SHRSOH DUH XQDEOH WR ZDON DELOLW\ WR VHOIDFFRPPRGDWH IRUHFORVHG D ILQGLQJ RI GLVDELOLW\ 6HH

HOHYHQ PLOHV ZLWKRXW VXIIHULQJ VRPH GLVFRPIRUW 6HH 6 5HS %DUWOHWW Y 1HZ <RUN 6WDWH %G RI /DZ ([DPLQHUV )G G

&LU YDFDWHG 6 &W 7KLV KROGLQJ LV FDOOHG LQWR

TXHVWLRQ LQ OLJKW RI WKH FLWHG 6XSUHPH &RXUW DXWKRULW\

*RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG 1R 1R *RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG

RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV

LQGLYLGXDOZKRDOOHJHVDUHVWULFWLRQLQDPDMRUOLIHDFWLYLW\WR IRULQVWDQFHE\UHDVRQRI>DQLPSDLUPHQWIURPZRUNLQJ

WKDWRI³PRVWSHRSOH´ ZLWK RWKHUV@WKHQ WKDW H[FOXVLRQ FRQVWLWXWHV DQ

LPSDLUPHQWZKHQWKHTXHVWLRQ\RX¶UHDVNLQJLVZKHWKHU

*RQ]DOHVFODLPVWKDWKLVPHQWDOLPSDLUPHQWVVXEVWDQWLDOO\ WKHH[FOXVLRQLWVHOILVE\UHDVRQRIKDQGLFDS

OLPLWKLPLQWKHPDMRUOLIHDFWLYLWLHVRIUHDGLQJZULWLQJDQG

ZRUNLQJ 6XWWRQ6&WDWTXRWLQJ7URI2UDO$UJLQ6FKRRO

%GRI1DVVDX&RY$UOLQH271RS

5HDGLQJ DUJXPHQWRI6ROLFLWRU*HQHUDO,WIXUWKHUQRWHGWKDWHYHQ

WKH ((2& KDV UHVHUYDWLRQV DERXW LQFOXGLQJ ZRUNLQJ DV D

2QDSSHDO*RQ]DOHVFODLPVWKDWDOOWKHFUHGLEOHHYLGHQFH PDMRUOLIHDFWLYLW\DQG³KDVVXJJHVWHGWKDWZRUNLQJEHYLHZHG

HVWDEOLVKHGWKDWKLVUHDGLQJLVUHVWULFWHGZKHQFRPSDUHGWRWKH DVDUHVLGXDOOLIHDFWLYLW\FRQVLGHUHGDVDODVWUHVRUWRQO\µ>L@I

³DYHUDJH´ SHUVRQ *RQ]DOHV SRLQWV WR KLV RZQ WHVWLPRQ\ DQLQGLYLGXDOLVQRWVXEVWDQWLDOO\OLPLWHGZLWKUHVSHFWWRDQ\

UHJDUGLQJ KLV KLVWRU\ RI UHDGLQJ SUREOHPV DV ZHOO DV WKH RWKHUPDMRUOLIHDFWLYLW\¶´,GTXRWLQJ&)5SW

FOLQLFDOHYLGHQFH+HQRWHVWKDW'U8OUH\¶VUHSRUWFRQWDLQV $SSM

VSHFLILFLQIRUPDWLRQGHWDLOLQJ*RQ]DOHV¶VUHDGLQJDQGRWKHU

SURFHVVLQJGHILFLWVDVZHOODVKLVGLDJQRVLVEDVHGRQWKRVH )LQDOO\ WKHUH LV QR VXSSRUW LQ WKH OHJLVODWLYH KLVWRU\ IRU

*RQ]DOHV¶VSRVLWLRQ5DWKHUWKHOHJLVODWLYHKLVWRU\VXJJHVWV

VLPSO\ WKDW &RQJUHVV LQWHQGHG ³VXEVWDQWLDOO\ OLPLWV´ WR EH

7KH 6XSUHPH &RXUW UHFHQWO\ QRWHG WKDW ³VXEVWDQWLDOO\´ VXJJHVW LQWHUSUHWHGDVVLJQLILFDQWO\UHVWULFWHGLQDPDMRUOLIHDFWLYLW\LQ

³FRQVLGHUDEOH´ ³VSHFLILHG WR D ODUJH GHJUHH´ DQG ³LQ D VXEVWDQWLDO UHODWLRQ WR WKH DYHUDJH SHUVRQ ZLWKLQ WKH SRSXODWLRQ 7KH

PDQQHU´ DQG WKDW ³VXEVWDQWLDO´ PHDQV ³FRQVLGHUDEOH LQ DPRXQW YDOXH RU

6HQDWH 5HSRUW IURP WKH &RPPLWWHH RQ /DERU DQG +XPDQ

ZRUWK´ ³EHLQJ WKDW VSHFLILHG WR D ODUJH GHJUHH RU LQ WKH PDLQ´ ³UHODWLQJ

WR RU SURFHHGLQJ IURP WKH HVVHQFH RI D WKLQJ HVVHQWLDO´ DQG ³RI DPSOH RU

5HVRXUFHVVXEPLWWHGE\6HQDWRU.HQQHG\VWDWHVDVIROORZV

FRQVLGHUDEOH amount, quantity or dimensions." Sutton, 119 S. Ct. at 2145.

The Supreme Court’s review of these definitions confirms that the ADA 3HUVRQVZLWKPLQRUWULYLDOLPSDLUPHQWVVXFKDVDVLPSOH

addresses impairments that limit an individual, not in a trivial or even LQIHFWHGILQJHUDUHQRWLPSDLUHGLQDPDMRUOLIHDFWLYLW\

moderate manner, but in a major way, to a considerable amount, or to a $SHUVRQLVFRQVLGHUHGDQLQGLYLGXDOZLWKDGLVDELOLW\IRU

large degree. Under this standard, Gonzales is clearly not disabled under SXUSRVHV RI WKH ILUVW SURQJ RI WKH GHILQLWLRQ ZKHQ WKH

the ADA. LQGLYLGXDO¶VLPSRUWDQWOLIHDFWLYLWLHVDUHUHVWULFWHGDVWR

WKHFRQGLWLRQVPDQQHURUGXUDWLRQXQGHUZKLFKWKH\FDQ

*RQ]DOHV WHVWLILHG WKDW WKURXJKRXW KLV OLIH KH KDV KDG GLIILFXOW\ EHSHUIRUPHGLQFRPSDULVRQWRPRVWSHRSOH

UHDGLQJ ERWK LQ DQG RXW RI VFKRRO +H DOVR WHVWLILHG WKDW KH KDV WURXEOH

UHDGLQJ VWUHHW VLJQV DQG FRPSOHWLQJ FRQVXPHU WUDQVDFWLRQV EHFDXVH RI KLV

UHDGLQJ SUREOHPV

7KH GLVVHQW ZRXOG FUHGLW *RQ]DOHV¶V WHVWLPRQ\ WKDW ³KH IHHOV

FRPSHOOHG WR VLJQ FUHGLW FDUG UHFHLSWV EOLQGO\ EHFDXVH UHDGLQJ WKHP ZRXOG

WDNH KLP VR ORQJ WKDW LW ZRXOG PDNH RWKHU FXVWRPHUV DQJU\ DQG WKDW RQH

RI KLV DWWRUQH\V KDG WR UHDG WR KLP OLQH E\ OLQH WKH FRPSODLQW WKH\ SUHSDUHG

RQ KLV EHKDOI LQ WKH SUHVHQW FDVH VR WKDW KH FRXOG XQGHUVWDQG LW´ $OWKRXJK

WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW GLG QRW VSHFLILFDOO\ PDNH WKH ILQGLQJ ZH WKLQN

*RQ]DOHV¶V YHUEDO UHSUHVHQWDWLRQ RI KLV LPSDLUPHQW LV LQFRQVLVWHQW ZLWK

KLV VXFFHVV RQ WKH 6$7 DQG 0&$7 %RWK WHVWV DUH WLPHG DQG *RQ]DOHV

WRRN WKHVH H[DPV ZLWKRXW DFFRPPRGDWLRQ

*RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG 1R 1R *RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG

RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV

7KXVZHPXVWSUHVXPHWKDWLIWKH'2-ZDQWHGWRPRGLI\WKH GHILFLWV )XUWKHUPRUH 'U *LRUGDQL ZKR WHVWLILHG DW WKH

GHILQLWLRQRI³VXEVWDQWLDOO\OLPLWV´UHJDUGLQJWKH³PDMRUOLIH KHDULQJFRQFOXGHGWKDW*RQ]DOHVPHWWKH'60,9FULWHULDIRU

DFWLYLW\ RI ZRUNLQJ´ LW ZRXOG KDYH H[SUHVVO\ GRQH VR ,Q 5HDGLQJ'LVRUGHUDIWHUFRQGXFWLQJDIXOOQHXURSV\FKRORJLFDO

RWKHUZRUGVWKH'2-¶VVLOHQFHLVGLVSRVLWLYHKHUH6HH3ULFH HYDOXDWLRQRI*RQ]DOHV

Y 1DWLRQDO %G RI 0HG ([DPLQ¶UV )6XSS

6' : 9D KROGLQJ WKDW EHFDXVH &RQJUHVV 5HJDUGLQJ*RQ]DOHV¶VUHDGLQJLPSDLUPHQWWKHGLVWULFWFRXUW

DXWKRUL]HGWKH'2-WRPDNHLVVXHUHJXODWLRQVIRU6XEFKDSWHU IRXQGWKDW

,,,FRXUWVPXVWJLYHWKHLUGHFLVLRQVFRQWUROOLQJZHLJKWXQOHVV

DUELWUDU\RUPDQLIHVWO\FRQWUDU\WRWKHVWDWXWHVHHJHQHUDOO\ >Z@KHQFRPSDUHGWRSRROHGQRUPVSODLQWLII>µ@VVFRUHV

%UDJGRQ Y $EERWW 86 %XW VHH DUH VTXDUHO\ LQ WKH DYHUDJH WR VXSHULRU UDQJH 2I WKH

%DUWOHWW ) 6XSS DW DGRSWLQJ ((2& WHVW ZLWK PRUHWKDQWZHOYHWHVWVDGPLQLVWHUHGE\'U*LRUGDQLLQ

UHVSHFW WR WKH PDMRU OLIH DFWLYLW\ RI ZRUNLQJ DQG SODLQWLIIVFRUHGVLJQLILFDQWO\EHORZDYHUDJHLQRQO\

)6XSSG6'1<GHQ\LQJPRWLRQ RQHWKH'LJLW6SDQ,QWKH'LJLW6SDQWHVWDGPLQLVWHUHG

IRU UHFRQVLGHUDWLRQ H[SODLQLQJ WKDW XVH RI WKH PDMRU OLIH E\ 'U *LRUGDQL LQ SODLQWLII UHFHLYHG D VFRUH RI

DFWLYLW\RIZRUNLQJVWDQGDUGIURP7LWOH,LVFRQVLVWHQWZLWKWKH ILYHZKLFKLVVLJQLILFDQWO\EHORZDYHUDJHDQGERUGHUOLQH

VSLULWDQGOHWWHURIWKH$'$DQG'2-³UXOHRILQWHUSUHWDWLRQ´ LPSDLUHG+RZHYHUSODLQWLII¶VVFRUHRQWKH'LJLW

ZKLFKVDQFWLRQVWKHXVHRIUHJXODWLRQVIURPDGLIIHUHQWWLWOHWR 6SDQ WHVW LV FOHDUO\ VXVSHFW ,Q SODLQWLII WRRN

DVVLVWLQLQWHUSUHWLQJDFRQFHSWWKDWLVQRWDGGUHVVHGLQLWVRZQ DQRWKHU 'LJLW 6SDQ WHVW ZLWK 'U 8OUH\ LQ ZKLFK KH

UHJXODWLRQVDII¶G)GG&LUYDFDWHG UHFHLYHG D WHQ ZHOOZLWKLQWKHDYHUDJHUDQJH'U

6 &W ,Q DQ\ HYHQW DV SUHYLRXVO\ QRWHG )ODQDJDQDQG'U/LWFKIRUGWHVWLILHGDWWKHKHDULQJWKDW

&RQJUHVVGLGQRWFRQIHUDXWKRULW\RQWKH((2&RUWKH'2- EHFDXVHRIWKHZLGHGLVFUHSDQF\EHWZHHQWKHWZRVFRUHV

IRU WKDW PDWWHU WR LVVXH UHJXODWLRQV UHJDUGLQJ WKH SURSHU WKH'LJLW6SDQWHVWLVDQXQUHOLDEOHLQGLFDWRURISODLQWLII¶V

LQWHUSUHWDWLRQRIWKHWHUP³GLVDELOLW\´6HH6XWWRQ6&W DELOLW\

DWGHFOLQLQJWRGHFLGHWKHYDOLGLW\RIRUZKDWGHIHUHQFH

LVGXHWKH((2&¶VUHJXODWLRQVGHILQLQJ³GLVDELOLW\´XQGHUWKH 7KHORZHUFRXUWUHFRJQL]HG'U*LRUGDQLDVD³FRPSHWHQWDQG

$'$EHFDXVHWKHSDUWLHVDFFHSWHGWKHUHJXODWLRQVDVYDOLG DFFRPSOLVKHG´ SV\FKRORJLVW EXW XOWLPDWHO\ IRXQG WKH

WHVWLPRQ\RI'UV/LWFKIRUGDQG)ODQDJDQ³PRUHSHUVXDVLYH´

0RUHRYHU3ODLQWLII¶VFODLPWRDGLVDELOLW\LQWKHPDMRUOLIH DQGDJUHHGZLWKWKHLUFRQFOXVLRQWKDWEDVHGRQ*RQ]DOHV¶V,4

DFWLYLW\RIZRUNLQJLVLWVHOISUREOHPDWLF$OEHLWLQGLFWXP VFRUHV KLV SHUIRUPDQFH IHOO ZLWKLQ WKH DYHUDJH WR VXSHULRU

WKH6XSUHPH&RXUWUHFHQWO\TXHVWLRQHGZKHWKHUZRUNLQJFDQ UDQJHZKHQFRPSDUHGWRPRVWSHRSOH*LYHQWKHVHILQGLQJV

EHGHHPHGD³PDMRUOLIHDFWLYLW\´XQGHUWKH$'$ WKHGLVWULFWFRXUWFRQFOXGHGWKDWKDGQRWGHPRQVWUDWHGWKDWKH

VXIIHUHGIURP³DQ$'$GHILQHGGLVDELOLW\´WKDWVXEVWDQWLDOO\

:HQRWHWKDWWKHUHPD\EHVRPHFRQFHSWXDOGLIILFXOW\ DIIHFWVDPDMRUOLIHDFWLYLW\

LQGHILQLQJ³PDMRUOLIHDFWLYLWLHV´WRLQFOXGHZRUNIRULW

VHHPV³WRDUJXHLQDFLUFOHWRVD\WKDWLIRQHLVH[FOXGHG 8SRQUHYLHZRIWKHUHFRUGZHFDQQRWVD\WKDWWKHGLVWULFW

FRXUW¶V ILQGLQJV RU FUHGLELOLW\ DVVHVVPHQWV DUH FOHDUO\

HUURQHRXV)ODQDJDQ'HIHQGDQW¶VH[SHUWZLWQHVVWHVWLILHGDW

7KH OLPLWDWLRQ FODLPHG E\ *RQ]DOHV LV LQ UHDOLW\ D OLPLWDWLRQ RQ KLV

WKHHYLGHQWLDU\KHDULQJWKDW8OUH\¶VUHSRUWGLGQRWVXSSRUWD

DELOLW\ WR UHDG QRW KLV DELOLW\ WR ZRUN DQG KH PDLQWDLQV WKDW KLV GLDJQRVLVRI3ODLQWLIIKDYLQJDUHDGLQJGLVRUGHU6KHVWDWHG

LPSDLUPHQWV GR QRW UHVWULFW KLV DELOLW\ WR GR WKH ZRUN RI D GRFWRU

*RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG 1R 1R *RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG

RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV

WKDWWKHGDWDVKHUHYLHZHGLQWHUPVRI*RQ]DOHV¶VFRJQLWLYH ZKLFKJRYHUQVHPSOR\PHQWZKHQLQIDFWKHLVRQO\DOOHJLQJ

SURFHVVHVDQGUHDGLQJ DFKLHYHPHQWSURYLGHGDEVROXWHO\QR DFODLPXQGHU7LWOH,,,

HYLGHQFHRIDQLPSDLUPHQW6KHSUHVHQWHGDWDEOHRIFRJQLWLYH

SURFHVVHV FORVHO\ DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK UHDGLQJ DFKLHYHPHQW DV 7KH GLVWULFW FRXUW DSSHDUV WR KDYH PLVWDNHQO\ DQDO\]HG

DVVHVVHG E\ 8OUH\ DQG *LRUGDQL DQG FRQFOXGHG WKDW LQ ³DOO *RQ]DOHV¶V DUJXPHQW DV D FODLP XQGHU 7LWOH ,

DUHDV WKDW ZHUH DVVHVVHG DOO FRJQLWLYH SURFHVVHV WKDW ZHUH 1RWZLWKVWDQGLQJ*RQ]DOHV¶VFODLPSURSHUO\XQGHUVWRRGVWLOO

DVVHVVHG WKDW DUH IRXQG WR XQGHUOLH RU KHOS XV H[SODLQ RU IDLOVIRUSUHFLVHO\WKHVDPHUHDVRQWKDW3ODLQWLII¶VDOOHJDWLRQV

XQGHUVWDQGUHDGLQJDFKLHYHPHQWKHSHUIRUPHGLQWKHDYHUDJH WKDWKHKDVDOHDUQLQJGLVDELOLW\IDLOVZKHQFRPSDUHGWR³PRVW

WRVXSHULRUUDQJH´$OVRVKHVWDWHGWKDWLQQLQHVXEWHVWVRI SHRSOH´KLVLPSDLUPHQWVGRQRWVXEVWDQWLDOO\OLPLWKLVDELOLW\

YHUEDODELOLW\YHUEDOH[SUHVVLRQDQGYHUEDOFRPSUHKHQVLRQ WRZRUN6HH&)5SW$SS%'2-LQWHUSUHWDWLYH

WKDW³KLVSHUIRUPDQFHZDVLQWKHDYHUDJHWRVXSHULRUUDQJH JXLGHOLQHV7LWOH,,,

DFURVVDYDULHW\RIWKRVHWDVNV´6KHIXUWKHUWHVWLILHGWKDWLQ

SKRQRORJLFDOSURFHVVLQJKLVVFRUHZDVLQWKHDYHUDJHUDQJH 7R JHW DURXQG WKLV SUREOHP 3ODLQWLII FRQWHQGV WKDW ZH

LQYLVXDODXGLWRU\OHDUQLQJKHSHUIRUPHGLQWKHYHU\VXSHULRU VKRXOG ORRN WR WKH ((2&¶V GHILQLWLRQ RI ³VXEVWDQWLDOO\

UDQJHDQGRQDQLQGXFWLYHUHDGLQJWDVNKHSHUIRUPHGLQWKH OLPLWHG´DVLWUHODWHVWRWKH³PDMRUOLIHDFWLYLW\RIZRUNLQJ´D

VXSHULRUUDQJH GHILQLWLRQWKDWGLIIHUVVKDUSO\IURPWKHGHILQLWLRQDSSOLFDEOH

LQHYHU\RWKHUFRQWH[W

)ODQDJDQ DOVR DGGUHVVHG WKH RQH DUHD PHPRU\ VSDQ RQ

ZKLFK*RQ]DOHVVFRUHGLQWKHLPSDLUHGUDQJHRQ*LRUGDQL¶V 7KH WHUP VXEVWDQWLDOO\ OLPLWV PHDQV VLJQLILFDQWO\

HYDOXDWLRQ6KHQRWHGWKDWRQ8OUH\¶VHYDOXDWLRQ*RQ]DOHV UHVWULFWHGLQWKHDELOLW\WRSHUIRUPHLWKHUDFODVVRIMREVRU

VFRUHGZLWKLQWKHDYHUDJHUDQJHRQWKHVDPHWHVWDQGWKDWRQ DEURDGUDQJHRIMREVLQYDULRXVFODVVHVDVFRPSDUHGWR

DQRWKHUPHPRU\VSDQWHVWLQ*LRUGDQL¶VHYDOXDWLRQ*RQ]DOHV¶V WKHDYHUDJHSHUVRQKDYLQJFRPSDUDEOHWUDLQLQJVNLOOV

SHUIRUPDQFHZDVDYHUDJH6KHVWDWHGWKDWWKHGLVFUHSDQFLHV DQGDELOLWLHV7KHLQDELOLW\WRSHUIRUPDVLQJOHSDUWLFXODU

LQKLVVFRUHVVXJJHVW³DYHU\XQXVXDOSDWWHUQRISHUIRUPDQFH MRE GRHV QRW FRQVWLWXWH D VXEVWDQWLDO OLPLWDWLRQ LQ WKH

EXWRQHWKDWLVH[SODLQHGTXLWHVLPSO\E\SRVVLEO\XQUHOLDELOLW\ PDMRUOLIHDFWLYLW\RIZRUNLQJ

RUDFKDQFHRFFXUUHQFH´6KHFRQFOXGHGWKDW*RQ]DOHVFOHDUO\

GHPRQVWUDWHGDYHUDJHDELOLW\LQPHPRU\VSDQ &)5 ML HPSKDVLV DGGHG

*RQ]DOHVFODLPVWKDWXQGHUWKLVWHVWKHPXVWEHFRPSDUHG

ZLWKRWKHUSHUVRQVZKRKDYHFRPSOHWHGWKHLUVHFRQG\HDURI

PHGLFDO VFKRRO DQG WKDW ZKHQ KH LV FRPSDUHG WR WKLV

UHIHUHQFH JURXS KLV GLIILFXOW\ ZLWK UHDGLQJ DQG ZULWLQJ LV

7KH GLVVHQW FULWLFL]HV 'U )ODQDJDQ IRU UHO\LQJ RQ WHVWV WKDW PHDVXUH

*RQ]DOHV¶V FRJQLWLYH VNLOOV VNLOOV ZKLFK SUHGLFW UHDGLQJ DELOLW\ ,W VKRXOG XQTXHVWLRQDEO\DQLPSDLUPHQW

EH QRWHG WKDW 'U )ODQDJDQ DOVR WRRN LQWR DFFRXQW WKH UHVXOWV RI WHVWV WKDW

UHIOHFWHG *RQ]DOHV¶V DFWXDO UHDGLQJ DFKLHYHPHQW OHYHO :H GHFOLQH WR WUDQVSODQW WKLV GHILQLWLRQ IURP WKH 7LWOH ,

UHJXODWLRQVLQWRWKH7LWOH,,,UHJXODWLRQV/LNHWKH((2&LQ

7KH GLVVHQW IDXOWV 'U )ODQDJDQ EHFDXVH VKH GLG QRW H[DPLQH 7LWOH,WKH'2-LQ7LWOH,,,DOVRLQFOXGHG³ZRUNLQJ´LQLWVOLVW

*RQ]DOHV 7KH GLVVHQW DOVR DWWDFNV KHU FRQFOXVLRQV EHFDXVH KHU

RI³PDMRUOLIHDFWLYLWLHV´DQGLWVGHILQLWLRQRI³VXEVWDQWLDOO\

PHWKRGRORJ\ IRU DVVHVVLQJ ZKHWKHU SHUVRQV KDYH OHDUQLQJ GLVDELOLWLHV

LQYROYHG D WKHRUHWLFDO PRGHO WKDW KDG QRW EHHQ HPSLULFDOO\ DQDO\]HG IRU

OLPLWV´ LV RWKHUZLVH LGHQWLFDO WR WKH ((2&¶V ³JHQHUDO

SXUSRVHV RI WUHDWPHQW DQG GLDJQRVLV 7KH GLVVHQW WKHUHIRUH LQWLPDWHV WKDW

SRSXODWLRQ´ GHILQLWLRQ RI WKH VDPH WHUP LQ &)5

)ODQDJDQ¶V WHVWLPRQ\ PLJKW QRW VDWLVI\ WKH ³JDWHNHHSHU´ UHTXLUHPHQWV RI M IRU PDMRU OLIH DFWLYLWLHV RWKHU WKDQ ZRUNLQJ

*RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG 1R 1R *RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG

RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV

OHDUQLQJGLVDELOLW\GLGQRWDIIHFWKLVDFDGHPLFVXFFHVVZKLFK /LWFKILHOG'HIHQGDQW¶VRWKHUH[SHUWZLWQHVVWHVWLILHGWKDW

GLGQRWIDOOEHORZWKHDYHUDJHVWXGHQWRIKLVDJH

WKHUHDGLQJWHVWVFRUHVWKDWZHUHVXEPLWWHGZHUHLQWKH

(YHQ LI VHOIDFFRPPRGDWLRQV HQKDQFHG 3ODLQWLII¶V DYHUDJH WR DERYH DYHUDJH UDQJH RQ WKH :LGH 5DQJH

SHUIRUPDQFHWRWKDWRIPRVWSHRSOHKHLVQRWGLVDEOHGXQGHU $FKLHYHPHQW7HVWWKH:RRFRFN>VLF@5HDGLQJ0DVWHU\

WKH $'$ 5HFHQWO\ WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW UXOHG WKDW LQ 7HVWDQGWKH:RRGFRFN-RKQVRQ%URDG5HDGLQJ

GHWHUPLQLQJZKHWKHULQGLYLGXDOVDUHGLVDEOHGXQGHUWKH$'$ ,QDGGLWLRQWKH:RRGFRFN5HDGLQJ0DVWHU\7HVW

WKH\VKRXOGEHH[DPLQHGLQWKHLUFRUUHFWHGVWDWH6HH6XWWRQ SODFHGKLVUHDGLQJWRWDOUHDGLQJVFRUHUHDGLQJVNLOOVFRUH

6&WDWVHHDOVR0XUSK\Y8QLWHG3DUFHO6HUY DQGUHDGLQJFRPSUHKHQVLRQVFRUHLQWKHDYHUDJHUDQJH

,QF 86 6&W ,Q 7KH VFRUHV ZHUH DOPRVW H[DFWO\ HTXLYDOHQW WR KLV IXOO

DGGLWLRQ LQ $OEHUWVRQV WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW KHOG WKDW DQ VFDOH,4$QGDOORIKLVSHUIRUPDQFHVRQWKDWWHVWZHUH

LQGLYLGXDOZKRVHERG\GHYHORSHGFRSLQJPHFKDQLVPVZDVQRW DWDFROOHJHJUDGXDWHJUDGHOHYHOVL[WHHQSRLQWQLQH

GLVDEOHGZLWKLQWKHIUDPHZRUNRIWKH$'$6HH$OEHUWVRQV

,QF Y .LUNLQJEXUJ 86 6&W /LWFKILHOGDOVRH[SODLQHGWKDWWKH³DJHOHYHOQRUPV´XVHGRQ

WKH:RRGFRFNWHVWGRQRWDSSUR[LPDWHWKHDYHUDJHSHUVRQDV

ZHOO DV SRROHG QRUPV GR 2Q WKH :RRGFRFN 5HDGLQJ

,Q VKRUW WKHUH LV UHFRUG HYLGHQFH WR VXSSRUW WKH GLVWULFW 0DVWHU\*RQ]DOHVVFRUHGLQWKHDYHUDJHUDQJHHYHQWKRXJK

FRXUW¶V FRQFOXVLRQ WKDW *RQ]DOHV GRHV QRW KDYH D UHDGLQJ WKHVH WHVWV FRPSDUHG KLV SHUIRUPDQFH WR WKDW RI FROOHJH

GLVDELOLW\IRUSXUSRVHVRIWKH$'$ JUDGXDWHV KLV DJH SHHUV ZKLFK LV ³D VWDWLVWLFDOO\ GULYHQ

VWDQGDUGRIDQDYHUDJHSHUVRQDWKLVDJHOHYHO´/LWFKILHOG

:ULWLQJ H[SODLQHG WKDW³SRROHGQRUPV´XVHGRQWKH1HOVRQ'HQQ\

5HDGLQJ 7HVW ³VDPSOH IURP WKH QLQWK WHQWK HOHYHQWK

7KH GLVWULFW FRXUW GLG QRW VHSDUDWHO\ DGGUHVV *RQ]DOHV¶V

DOOHJHGZULWLQJGLVDELOLW\*RQ]DOHVFRUUHFWO\QRWHVWKDWWKH

1%0(DFNQRZOHGJHGWKDWKLV³GLDJQRVLVRIDZULWLQJGLVRUGHU

LVVXSSRUWHGE\WKHWHVWGDWD´7KH1%0(DOVRVWDWHGWKDW

.XPKR 7LUH &R Y &DUPLFKDHO 86 DQG 'DXEHUW Y

³ZULWLQJLVQRWDFRQVWUXFWWKDWLVPHDVXUHGE\WKH860/(VR 0HUUHOO 'RZ 3KDUPDFHXWLFDOV ,QF 86

WKDW ZHDN SHUIRUPDQFH LQ WKLV DUHD ZRXOG QRW LPSDFW \RXU 7KH GLVVHQW¶V UHDVRQLQJ LV IODZHG $OWKRXJK DV DQ DFDGHPLF

DFFHVV WR WKH 860/( SURJUDP´ *RQ]DOHV RIIHUHG QR SV\FKRORJLVW 'U )ODQDJDQ LV QRW TXDOLILHG WR GLDJQRVH D UHDGLQJ GLVRUGHU

HYLGHQFHWRUHIXWHWKLV,QDQ\HYHQWIRUWKHUHDVRQVGLVFXVVHG VKH LV TXDOLILHG WR DQDO\]H *RQ]DOHV¶V WHVW UHVXOWV DQG H[SUHVV DQ RSLQLRQ

DERYH*RQ]DOHVKDVIDLOHGWRHVWDEOLVKWKDWKHLVVXEVWDQWLDOO\ DV WR KRZ KLV UHDGLQJ DELOLW\ FRPSDUHV ZLWK WKDW RI WKH DYHUDJH SHUVRQ

'U )ODQDJDQ IRFXVHG ³RQ ZKHWKHU 0U *RQ]DOHV KDV D UHDGLQJ GLVRUGHU

OLPLWHGE\DQ\DOOHJHGZULWLQJLPSDLUPHQWZKHQFRPSDUHGWR WKDW ULVHV WR WKH OHYHO RI D GLVDELOLW\ WKDW UHSUHVHQWV DQ LPSDLUPHQW´ 7KH

WKHDYHUDJHSHUVRQ GLVVHQW JRHV WRR IDU LQ LQWHUSUHWLQJ 'U )ODQDJDQ¶V WHVWLPRQ\ DV VHFRQG

JXHVVLQJ WKH FOLQLFDO GLDJQRVHV RI 'UV 8OUH\ DQG *LRUGDQL

:RUNLQJ 6LPLODUO\ WKH IDFW WKDW 'U )ODQDJDQ UHOLHG RQ D WKHRUHWLFDO PRGHO WKDW

KDG QRW EHHQ HPSLULFDOO\ DQDO\]HG IRU SXUSRVHV RI GLDJQRVLV DQG WUHDWPHQW

$OWHUQDWLYHO\*RQ]DOHV¶VFODLPWKDWKHLVGLVDEOHGLQWKH GRHV QRW SUHFOXGH KHU IURP DGGUHVVLQJ WKH VXEVWDQWLDO OLPLWDWLRQ TXHVWLRQ

PDMRU OLIH DFWLYLW\ RI ZRUNLQJ +H IXUWKHU DOOHJHV WKDW WKH 'U )ODQDJDQ GLG QRW SXUSRUW WR PDGH D GLDJQRVLV RU VXJJHVW WUHDWPHQW

VKH RQO\ GHWHUPLQHG ZKHWKHU *RQ]DOHV¶V WHVW UHVXOWV ZHUH FRQVLVWHQW ZLWK

GLVWULFW FRXUW PLVXQGHUVWRRG WKDW KH ZDV DOOHJLQJ DQ D VXEVWDQWLDO LPSDLUPHQW LQ KLV UHDGLQJ DELOLW\ 7KLV VKH ZDV TXDOLILHG WR

HPSOR\PHQWGLVFULPLQDWLRQFODLPXQGHU7LWOH,RIWKH$'$ GR XQGHU WKH JDWHNHHSHU UHTXLUHPHQWV RI .XPKR DQG 'DXEHUW

*RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG 1R 1R *RQ]DOHVY1DWLRQDO%RDUG

RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV RI0HGLFDO([DPLQHUV

WZHOIWKIUHVKPDQFROOHJHVHFRQGWKLUGDQGIRXUWK\HDURI FRPPHQVXUDWH ZLWK ZKDW LV H[SHFWHG JLYHQ KLV ,4´ ,Q

FROOHJH´DQGWKXVEHWWHUDSSUR[LPDWHWKHDYHUDJHSHUVRQ RWKHU ZRUGV *RQ]DOHV¶V DFKLHYHPHQWV DUH QRW WHUULEO\

LQFRQVLVWHQWZLWKKLV,4VFRUHV

)LQDOO\ LW VKRXOG EH QRWHG WKDW FRQVLVWHQW ZLWK WKH

1%0(¶V H[SHUWV *LRUGDQL UHSRUWHG WKDW *RQ]DOHV VFRUHG 1HLWKHUGRHV3ODLQWLIIILWZLWKLQ&RQJUHVV¶VYLVLRQRIWKH

ZLWKLQWKHDYHUDJHUDQJHRQUHDGLQJFRPSUHKHQVLRQWHVWVDV GLVDEOHGSRSXODWLRQ,QWKHLQWURGXFWRU\VHFWLRQWRWKH$'$

FRPSDUHGWRWKHJHQHUDOSRSXODWLRQ7KXV*RQ]DOHV¶VRZQ ³)LQGLQJV DQG 3XUSRVH´ &RQJUHVV GHVFULEHV WKH GLVDEOHG

H[SHUWXQGHUPLQHV*RQ]DOHV¶VDVVHUWLRQ³WKDWGHVSLWHKLVEHVW SRSXODWLRQ LW VHHNV WR SURWHFW ,W SUHVHQWV WKH GLVDEOHG DV

HIIRUWVWRZRUNDURXQGKLVSUREOHPKHLVVWLOOQRWDEOHWRUHDG LVRODWHGDQGVHJUHJDWHGLQGLYLGXDOVDVLQGLYLGXDOVZKRRIWHQ

QHDUO\DVZHOODVWKHDYHUDJHSHUVRQ´'LVVHQWLQJ2SDW KDYH³QROHJDOUHFRXUVHWRUHGUHVVGLVFULPLQDWLRQ´DQGDV

,Q VKRUW *RQ]DOHV¶V LPSDLUPHQW VLPSO\ GRHV QRW PHHW WKH WKRVHZKR³DVDJURXSRFFXS\DQLQIHULRUVWDWXVLQRXUVRFLHW\

'2-¶VGHILQLWLRQRI³VXEVWDQWLDOO\OLPLWV´EHFDXVHKHFDQUHDG DQG DUH VHYHUHO\ GLVDGYDQWDJHG VRFLDOO\ YRFDWLRQDOO\

DVZHOODVWKHDYHUDJHSHUVRQ HFRQRPLFDOO\DQGHGXFDWLRQDOO\´86&$D

,Q 3D]HU Y 1HZ <RUN 6WDWH %G RI /DZ ([DPLQHUV ,QKLJKVFKRRO3ODLQWLIITXDOLILHGIRUDGYDQFHGSODFHPHQW

)6XSS6'1<WKHFRXUWIRXQG³VRPHPHULWWR FODVVHVDQGJUDGXDWHGZLWKDJUDGHSRLQWDYHUDJHRI

WKHDUJXPHQWWKDWDGLVSDULW\EHWZHHQLQKHUHQWFDSDFLW\DQG +HKDGQRIRUPDODFFRPPRGDWLRQVIRUOHDUQLQJGLVDELOLWLHV

SHUIRUPDQFHRQDWHVWPD\LQVRPHFLUFXPVWDQFHVSHUPLWWKH GXULQJKLJKVFKRRO3ODLQWLIIVFRUHGDQDYHUDJHVFRUH

LQIHUHQFH WKDW DQ LQGLYLGXDO KDV D OHDUQLQJ GLVDELOLW\ HYHQ RQ WKH 6$7 +H WRRN WKH WHVW ZLWKRXW DFFRPPRGDWLRQV

WKRXJKWKDWLQGLYLGXDO¶VSHUIRUPDQFHKDVPHWWKHVWDQGDUGRI 3ODLQWLIIHDUQHGDJUDGH SRLQWDYHUDJHRIDW'DYLV

WKHRUGLQDU\SHUVRQ´,GDW+RZHYHUWKH3D]HUFRXUW ZKHUHKHPDMRUHGLQSK\VLRORJ\+HKDGDFFRPPRGDWLRQV

UHMHFWHG WKH LGHD WKDW ³VXFK D GLVSDULW\ FRPSHOV WKDW GXULQJKLVWKLUGDQGIRXUWK\HDUVDW8&'+HWRRNWKH0&$7

FRQFOXVLRQ DV D PDWWHU RI ODZ´ VWDWLQJ ³WR KROG RWKHUZLVH WZLFHZLWKRXWDFFRPPRGDWLRQVLPSURYLQJKLVVFRUHRQKLV

ZRXOGFRPSHOWKHFRQFOXVLRQWKDWDQ\XQGHUDFKLHYHUZRXOG VHFRQG DWWHPSW E\ XVLQJ VNLOOV VXJJHVWHG E\ FRXQVHORUV DW

E\GHILQLWLRQEHOHDUQLQJGLVDEOHGDVDPDWWHURIODZ´,G,W 'DYLV+LVVHFRQG0&$7VFRUHZDVKLJKHQRXJKWKDWWKH

JDYHFUHGHQFHWRWKHGHIHQGDQW¶VH[SHUWZKRFRQFOXGHGWKDW 8006DGPLWWHGKLPWRLWVSURJUDP,QVKRUW*RQ]DOHVLV

WKHSODLQWLII¶V³SHUIRUPDQFHOHYHORQWHVWVDWLVVXHZDVQRW QRWDPHPEHURIWKHVHYHUHO\GLVDGYDQWDJHGJURXS&RQJUHVV

FRQVLVWHQWZLWKDOHDUQLQJGLVDELOLW\´,G HQYLVLRQHGZKHQLWHQDFWHGWKH$'$6HH%HUFRYLWFK

)GDWKROGLQJWKDWWKHSODLQWLIIZKRZDVGLDJQRVHG

/LNHZLVHLQWKHLQVWDQWFDVH'HIHQGDQW¶VH[SHUWZKRPWKH ZLWK$'+'ZDVQRW³GLVDEOHG´XQGHUWKH$'$EHFDXVHKLV

GLVWULFW FRXUW FUHGLWHG GLG QRW ILQG D GLVSDULW\ EHWZHHQ

3ODLQWLII¶VDELOLW\DQGDFWXDODFKLHYHPHQW)ODQDJDQWHVWLILHG

WKDW ³>R@QH RI WKH PDMRU LQGLFDWRUV RI MXVW DERXW HYHU\

GHILQLWLRQ RI D OHDUQLQJ GLVDELOLW\ LV D VLJQLILFDQW DELOLW\

DFKLHYHPHQW GLVFUHSDQF\´ EXW WKDW *RQ]DOHV ³LV DFKLHYLQJ 3ODLQWLII XUJHV WKLV &RXUW WR UHO\ XSRQ 'RH Y 1%0( &DVH 1R &

:+2 1' &D DQ XQSXEOLVKHG GHFLVLRQ 'RH KDV D

IDFWXDO VLPLODULW\ WR WKH LQVWDQW FDVH LQ WKDW LWV VXEMHFW D PHGLFDO VWXGHQW

DOOHJHV D UHDGLQJ GLVDELOLW\ DQG VHHNV GRXEOH WLPH RQ WKH 6WHS

([DPLQDWLRQ ,Q 'RH KRZHYHU WKH FRXUW FUHGLWHG SODLQWLII¶V H[SHUW

ZLWQHVVHV DQG WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW LQ WKH LQVWDQW FDVH FUHGLWHG 'HIHQGDQW¶V

ZLWQHVVHV

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.