In tackling the issue of a parent’s eligibility for attorney fees in access-to-education litigation against a school district after a settlement offer has been made, a federal appeals court ruled that a mother was entitled to more than she was given.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reversed a district court’s decision to award attorney fees to plaintiff Rena Castrovillo up until the date a settlement offer was made by Colonial School District. The Third Circuit held that attorney fees continued to accrue after the rejected settlement offer was made.