In re Butcher
This case addresses three handicapped petitions seeking tuition and maintenance costs at the Summit Residential Treatment Facility under sections 232 and 234 of the Family Court Act. Judge Rudolph Di Blasi found all petitioners qualified for benefits. The court affirmed that tuition costs are reimbursable without parental means testing, but maintenance costs are subject to parental ability to pay. Crucially, the court asserted its discretion to evaluate the reasonableness of charges by service providers, rejecting the City of New York's argument that it must pay inflated costs. The decision detailed inflated administrative costs at Summit and deemed certain staffing ratios an unnecessary luxury at public expense. The court subsequently ordered specific, adjusted amounts for tuition and maintenance for each petitioner, directing the City of New York as the initial payor and the State of New York for partial reimbursement.