Meet Bo Johnson

With over two decades of legal experience, Bo Johnson has built a career grounded in skilled advocacy, strategic litigation, and a deep commitment to supporting families and students. As the founder of Bo Johnson Law, LLC, he focuses on special education law, school discipline, disability discrimination, and civil rights litigation in Alabama and Washington state.

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Bo has tried more than 30 jury trials to verdict and has represented clients in numerous administrative, trial, and appellate proceedings. His litigation experience spans complex civil matters and education-based cases under IDEA, ADA, and Section 504. Bo is known for translating dense legal issues into clear, practical advice that empowers families to make confident decisions.

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His work has helped shape education law and civil rights protections at the federal and state levels. Notable outcomes include:

• Groundbreaking victories in the Eleventh Circuit expanding protections for students with disabilities and those who advocate for them

• Federal court success in securing teachers' rights to advocate on behalf of students with disabilities

• A $13.6 million jury verdict in federal court following a weeks-long trial and the testimony of 26 witnesses​

Reported Cases & Notable Legal Decisions

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Education & Disability Rights:

• J.S. v. Houston Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 877 F.3d 979 (11th Cir. 2017) – IDEA, ADA, and § 504 discrimination

• Norris v. Opelika City Bd. of Educ., 2020 WL 6784357 (M.D. Ala. 2020) – IDEA, ADA, and § 504 discrimination/retaliation

• A.W. v. Elmore Cnty Bd. of Educ., Ala. Dept. of Educ., 2019-05 – Failure to follow IDEA settlement agreement/denial of FAPE

• R.R. v. Shelby Cnty Bd. of Educ., Ala. Dept. of Educ., 2020-65 – Failure to follow IDEA settlement agreement/denial of FAPE

• J.C. v. Dothan City Schools Bd. of Educ., Ala. Dept. of Educ., 2022-139 – Failure to follow IDEA settlement agreement / MDR and expulsion reversal

• A.S. v. Hockinson School Dist., WA OSPI, OAH-2023-SE-0006 – FAPE violation, retaliation, compensatory education for medically fragile student

• M.K. v. Issaquah School Dist., WA OSPI, OAH-2023-SE-0047 – FAPE violation, private placement/reimbursement for suicidal student

Civil Litigation & Trial Practice:

• Rutledge v. Freeman, 914 So.2d 364 (Ala. Civ. App. 2004) – Legal malpractice and statute of limitations

• Mobile Infirmary Assn. v. Tyler, 981 So.2d 1077 (Ala. 2007) – Medical malpractice, standard of care, and causation

• Galloway v. Ozark Striping, Inc., 26 So.3d 413 (Ala. Civ. App. 2009) – Negligence involving highway construction

• McDonald v. Kubota Mfg. of America Corp., 139 So.3d 153 (Ala. 2013) – Product liability and trial procedure

• Health Care Auth. for Baptist Health v. Dickson, 330 So.3d 805 (Ala. 2021) – Arbitration, civil procedure, and pre-trial practice

Continuing Legal Education Presentations

• “Representing the Medically-Fragile Student in IDEA and Special Education Matters”
  Attorneys for Education Rights CLE – October 4, 2024 (formally approved for credit by the Washington State Bar)

• “Retaliation Claims Under the ADA, § 504, and the Washington Law Against Discrimination”
  Attorneys for Education Rights CLE – March 25, 2022 (formally approved for credit by the Washington State Bar)

• “Utilizing Formal Discovery in Special Education Administrative Proceedings”
  Attorneys for Education Rights CLE – October 1, 2021 (formally approved for credit by the Washington State Bar)

• “Federal and State Causes of Action Arising From IDEA and Special Education Matters”
  Legal Services of Alabama CLE – February 2019 (formally approved for credit by the Alabama State Bar)

Education & Credentials

• J.D., Mississippi College School of Law

• B.A., Birmingham-Southern College

• Certificate in Special Education Advocacy, William & Mary Law School (PELE Clinic)

Licenses & Admissions

• Licensed in Alabama and Washington

• Admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court

• U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit

• U.S. District Courts: N.D. and M.D. Alabama, E.D. and W.D. Washington

Professional Affiliations & Recognition

• Alabama State Bar Association

• Washington State Bar Association

• Birmingham Bar Association

• Attorneys for Education Rights

• AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell