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PUBLICATION","paragraph_id":"para_1"},{"text":"In the","paragraph_id":"para_2"},{"text":"United States Court of Appeals","paragraph_id":"para_3"},{"text":"For the Eleventh Circuit","paragraph_id":"para_4"},{"text":"____________________","paragraph_id":"para_5"},{"text":"No. 24-13307","paragraph_id":"para_6"},{"text":"____________________","paragraph_id":"para_7"},{"text":"SHANNON WALLER, JR.,","paragraph_id":"para_8"},{"text":"Plaintiff-Appellant,","paragraph_id":"para_9"},{"text":"versus","paragraph_id":"para_10"},{"text":"BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF","paragraph_id":"para_11"},{"text":"GEORGIA,","paragraph_id":"para_12"},{"text":"TERRI MILLER,","paragraph_id":"para_13"},{"text":"JASMINE BROWN,","paragraph_id":"para_14"},{"text":"SHANOYA CORDEW,","paragraph_id":"para_15"},{"text":"MARINA SPEARS, et al.,","paragraph_id":"para_16"},{"text":"Defendants-Appellees.","paragraph_id":"para_17"},{"text":"____________________","paragraph_id":"para_18"},{"text":"Appeal from the United States District Court","paragraph_id":"para_19"},{"text":"for the Middle District of Georgia","paragraph_id":"para_20"},{"text":"D.C. Docket No. 5:23-cv-00232-MTT","paragraph_id":"para_21"},{"text":"____________________","paragraph_id":"para_22"},{"text":"Before JORDAN, JILL PRYOR, and KIDD, Circuit Judges.","paragraph_id":"para_23"},{"text":"USCA11 Case: 24-13307 Document: 48-1 Date Filed: 08/10/2026 Page: 1 of 19","paragraph_id":"para_24"},{"text":"2 Opinion of the Court 24-13307","paragraph_id":"para_25"},{"text":"JORDAN, Circuit Judge:","paragraph_id":"para_26"},{"text":"Shannon Waller, Jr., was a respiratory therapy student at","paragraph_id":"para_27"},{"text":"Middle Georgia State University, an institution in the University","paragraph_id":"para_28"},{"text":"System of Georgia. Following an incident at his clinical externship,","paragraph_id":"para_29"},{"text":"an MGS disciplinary panel found Mr. Waller responsible for endan-","paragraph_id":"para_30"},{"text":"gering the health or safety of a patient. As punishment, the panel","paragraph_id":"para_31"},{"text":"gave him an “F” in his clinical externship class.","paragraph_id":"para_32"},{"text":"Mr. Waller then brought a complaint against the Board of","paragraph_id":"para_33"},{"text":"Regents and some of its employees for breach of contract and disa-","paragraph_id":"para_34"},{"text":"bility discrimination, among other things. The district court dis-","paragraph_id":"para_35"},{"text":"missed the contract claim on state sovereign immunity grounds.","paragraph_id":"para_36"},{"text":"And it dismissed the discrimination claims for failure to state a","paragraph_id":"para_37"},{"text":"claim. After review, and with the benefit of oral argument, we","paragraph_id":"para_38"},{"text":"affirm.","paragraph_id":"para_39"},{"text":"I","paragraph_id":"para_40"},{"text":"We take as true the following allegations, which are pled in","paragraph_id":"para_41"},{"text":"Mr. Waller’s operative complaint or contained in its attached ex-","paragraph_id":"para_42"},{"text":"hibits. See Daniels v. Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc., 34 F.4th 1260,","paragraph_id":"para_43"},{"text":"1263–64 (11th Cir. 2022) (citing Tellabs, Inc. v. Makor Issues & Rts.,","paragraph_id":"para_44"},{"text":"Ltd., 551 U.S. 308, 322 (2007)).","paragraph_id":"para_45"},{"text":"A","paragraph_id":"para_46"},{"text":"On June 8, 2020, MGS sent Mr. Waller a letter tentatively","paragraph_id":"para_47"},{"text":"accepting him into its Respiratory Therapy Entry-Level Degree","paragraph_id":"para_48"},{"text":"Program. It read in relevant part:","paragraph_id":"para_49"},{"text":"USCA11 Case: 24-13307 Document: 48-1 Date Filed: 08/10/2026 Page: 2 of 19","paragraph_id":"para_50"},{"text":"24-13307 Opinion of the Court 3","paragraph_id":"para_51"},{"text":"Dear Shannon Waller,","paragraph_id":"para_52"},{"text":"Congratulations! You have been tentatively accepted","paragraph_id":"para_53"},{"text":"into the Fall 2020 Bachelor of Science in Respiratory","paragraph_id":"para_54"},{"text":"Therapy Entry-Level Degree Program at Middle","paragraph_id":"para_55"},{"text":"Georgia State University. This acceptance is condi-","paragraph_id":"para_56"},{"text":"tional upon your successfully completing the prereq-","paragraph_id":"para_57"},{"text":"uisites as outlined in the Middle Georgia State aca-","paragraph_id":"para_58"},{"text":"demic catalog and as advised. . . . You will also need","paragraph_id":"para_59"},{"text":"to contact the Office of Admissions 30 days prior to","paragraph_id":"para_60"},{"text":"the first day of class to ensure that all admission re-","paragraph_id":"para_61"},{"text":"quirements have been met. . . .","paragraph_id":"para_62"},{"text":"An orientation to the program will be held on August","paragraph_id":"para_63"},{"text":"12 & 13 from 8:00am until 5:00pm. Your attendance","paragraph_id":"para_64"},{"text":"for the entire orientation period is required to move","paragraph_id":"para_65"},{"text":"forward within the program. . . . I have attached","paragraph_id":"para_66"},{"text":"some important information regarding our program","paragraph_id":"para_67"},{"text":"which you will want to review and act upon as","paragraph_id":"para_68"},{"text":"needed. Your signature on this acceptance letter will","paragraph_id":"para_69"},{"text":"serve as acceptance of the content within that docu-","paragraph_id":"para_70"},{"text":"ment. . . .","paragraph_id":"para_71"},{"text":"Please return a signed copy of this letter by scanning","paragraph_id":"para_72"},{"text":"and emailing it . . . before June 15, 2020, as your com-","paragraph_id":"para_73"},{"text":"mitment to begin Fall Semester 2020. . . .","paragraph_id":"para_74"},{"text":"The letter was signed by Teresa J. Miller, the Chair of the Respira-","paragraph_id":"para_75"},{"text":"tory Therapy Program. The same day, Mr. Waller signed and re-","paragraph_id":"para_76"},{"text":"turned the letter. 1","paragraph_id":"para_77"},{"text":"1 The operative complaint does not identify what document was attached to","paragraph_id":"para_78"},{"text":"the admission letter. Nor does it set out what that document says.","paragraph_id":"para_79"},{"text":"USCA11 Case: 24-13307 Document: 48-1 Date Filed: 08/10/2026 Page: 3 of 19","paragraph_id":"para_80"},{"text":"4 Opinion of the Court 24-13307","paragraph_id":"para_81"},{"text":"MGS then provided Mr. Waller with a copy of the Respira-","paragraph_id":"para_82"},{"text":"tory Therapy Student Handbook. The Handbook states that “you","paragraph_id":"para_83"},{"text":"[the student] are responsible for reading, understanding, and abid-","paragraph_id":"para_84"},{"text":"ing by the . . . Student Code of Conduct.” The Code of Conduct","paragraph_id":"para_85"},{"text":"lays out specific procedures and student rights in disciplinary and","paragraph_id":"para_86"},{"text":"enforcement proceedings. The Handbook also states: “If a stu-","paragraph_id":"para_87"},{"text":"dent’s behavior becomes a problem in the classroom setting, the","paragraph_id":"para_88"},{"text":"procedures for disciplinary action listed in the Middle Georgia State","paragraph_id":"para_89"},{"text":"University Handbook will be followed.”","paragraph_id":"para_90"},{"text":"The Handbook is not signed by an employee of MGS. On","paragraph_id":"para_91"},{"text":"August 16, 2020, Mr. Waller signed the following verification of re-","paragraph_id":"para_92"},{"text":"ceipt: “I hereby certify that I have received a copy of the Middle","paragraph_id":"para_93"},{"text":"Georgia State University Respiratory Therapy Handbook, have","paragraph_id":"para_94"},{"text":"read and understand the material and will adhere to the policies.”","paragraph_id":"para_95"},{"text":"Christopher Blake, the President of MGS, signed the Consti-","paragraph_id":"para_96"},{"text":"tution of the Student Government Association. The Constitution","paragraph_id":"para_97"},{"text":"provides that “[e]ach member shall . . . uphold . . . the Middle Geor-","paragraph_id":"para_98"},{"text":"gia State University Student Handbook and Code of Conduct.”","paragraph_id":"para_99"},{"text":"B","paragraph_id":"para_100"},{"text":"To graduate from MGS with a degree in respiratory therapy,","paragraph_id":"para_101"},{"text":"Mr. Waller had to pass RESP 4125—a class where students partici-","paragraph_id":"para_102"},{"text":"pate in a clinical externship. Once enrolled in RESP 4125, he was","paragraph_id":"para_103"},{"text":"placed at Houston Healthcare in Warner Robins, Georgia, to com-","paragraph_id":"para_104"},{"text":"plete the clinical component of the class.","paragraph_id":"para_105"},{"text":"Mr. Waller suffers from attention deficit disorder, anxiety,","paragraph_id":"para_106"},{"text":"and depression. Ms. Miller and Jasmine Brown, the professor of","paragraph_id":"para_107"},{"text":"USCA11 Case: 24-13307 Document: 48-1 Date Filed: 08/10/2026 Page: 4 of 19","paragraph_id":"para_108"},{"text":"24-13307 Opinion of the Court 5","paragraph_id":"para_109"},{"text":"the RESP 4125 class, were aware of Mr. Waller’s conditions. They","paragraph_id":"para_110"},{"text":"also knew that Mr. Waller sees a counselor and takes medication","paragraph_id":"para_111"},{"text":"for his conditions.","paragraph_id":"para_112"},{"text":"After Mr. Waller began his externship, one of his clinical in-","paragraph_id":"para_113"},{"text":"structors told Ms. Miller and Ms. Brown that he “display[ed] a sort","paragraph_id":"para_114"},{"text":"of nervous anxiety” and made “some inappropriate statements dur-","paragraph_id":"para_115"},{"text":"ing his clinical rotations that is making the staff uncomfortable.”","paragraph_id":"para_116"},{"text":"Similarly, three Houston Healthcare employees believed that Mr.","paragraph_id":"para_117"},{"text":"Waller’s performance was unsatisfactory due to behavior related","paragraph_id":"para_118"},{"text":"to his mental health conditions. They too communicated their","paragraph_id":"para_119"},{"text":"opinions of Mr. Waller to Ms. Miller, Ms. Brown, and others.","paragraph_id":"para_120"},{"text":"Following those comments, Ms. Miller and Ms. Brown had","paragraph_id":"para_121"},{"text":"discussions with Dr. Michael Stewart, the Associate Vice-President","paragraph_id":"para_122"},{"text":"for Student Affairs, and Dr. Tara Underwood, the Dean of Health","paragraph_id":"para_123"},{"text":"and Natural Sciences, regarding Mr. Waller’s conditions and behav-","paragraph_id":"para_124"},{"text":"ior. Dr. Stewart required Mr. Waller to provide documentation","paragraph_id":"para_125"},{"text":"from a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist certifying that he was","paragraph_id":"para_126"},{"text":"not a danger to himself or others and that he was able to withstand","paragraph_id":"para_127"},{"text":"the stress of the clinical setting, including the care of neonatal, pe-","paragraph_id":"para_128"},{"text":"diatric, and adult critical care patients. Mr. Waller complied with","paragraph_id":"para_129"},{"text":"Dr. Stewart’s request.","paragraph_id":"para_130"},{"text":"On April 21, 2022, a patient at Houston Healthcare with a","paragraph_id":"para_131"},{"text":"tracheostomy twice went into cardiac arrest. Mr. Waller says that","paragraph_id":"para_132"},{"text":"he “blew the whistle” regarding the facility’s failure to use the ap-","paragraph_id":"para_133"},{"text":"propriately sized cannula—a type of tube—and that the heart at-","paragraph_id":"para_134"},{"text":"tacks were caused in part by the wrong-sized cannula. Following","paragraph_id":"para_135"},{"text":"USCA11 Case: 24-13307 Document: 48-1 Date Filed: 08/10/2026 Page: 5 of 19","paragraph_id":"para_136"},{"text":"6 Opinion of the Court 24-13307","paragraph_id":"para_137"},{"text":"this incident, Ms. Miller suspended Mr. Waller indefinitely from his","paragraph_id":"para_138"},{"text":"clinical rotation, and Houston Healthcare barred him from its facil-","paragraph_id":"para_139"},{"text":"ities.","paragraph_id":"para_140"},{"text":"Shanoya Cordew, MGS’ Student Conduct Coordinator, sent","paragraph_id":"para_141"},{"text":"Mr. Waller a letter charging him with violations of the Student","paragraph_id":"para_142"},{"text":"Code of Conduct arising from the incident. According to the letter,","paragraph_id":"para_143"},{"text":"Mr. Waller allegedly made changes to ventilators without notify-","paragraph_id":"para_144"},{"text":"ing a therapist, placed a patient on “BiPAP” without supervision,","paragraph_id":"para_145"},{"text":"“[p]erform[ed] an ABG [an arterial blood gas test] backwards” after","paragraph_id":"para_146"},{"text":"being told not to perform the test in that manner, and engaged in","paragraph_id":"para_147"},{"text":"other misconduct. The letter stated that the proposed sanctions for","paragraph_id":"para_148"},{"text":"these violations were a grade of “F” in RESP 4125 and dismissal","paragraph_id":"para_149"},{"text":"from the Respiratory Therapy Program. The letter also informed","paragraph_id":"para_150"},{"text":"Mr. Waller of some of his rights under MGS’ policies, including the","paragraph_id":"para_151"},{"text":"right to a hearing and to call witnesses.","paragraph_id":"para_152"},{"text":"MGS convened a hearing, at which Ms. Miller and Ms.","paragraph_id":"para_153"},{"text":"Brown served as the complainants. After hearing the evidence, a","paragraph_id":"para_154"},{"text":"three-person panel unanimously found that Mr. Waller was re-","paragraph_id":"para_155"},{"text":"sponsible for “[a]ctions and/or behaviors that endanger","paragraph_id":"para_156"},{"text":"health/safety.” The panel decided that, as punishment, Mr. Waller","paragraph_id":"para_157"},{"text":"should receive a grade of “F” in RESP 4125.","paragraph_id":"para_158"},{"text":"Mr. Waller contends that this hearing did not conform to the","paragraph_id":"para_159"},{"text":"standards set forth in the Student Code of Conduct and other writ-","paragraph_id":"para_160"},{"text":"ten policies of MGS. For example, Mr. Waller alleges that before","paragraph_id":"para_161"},{"text":"the hearing he “attempted to obtain a complete collection of the","paragraph_id":"para_162"},{"text":"evidence against him, lists of witnesses, investigative reports,","paragraph_id":"para_163"},{"text":"USCA11 Case: 24-13307 Document: 48-1 Date Filed: 08/10/2026 Page: 6 of 19","paragraph_id":"para_164"},{"text":"24-13307 Opinion of the Court 7","paragraph_id":"para_165"},{"text":"notes, and summaries . . . but was unable to do so.” He submitted","paragraph_id":"para_166"},{"text":"questions for Ms. Cordew to ask Ms. Miller and Ms. Brown, but she","paragraph_id":"para_167"},{"text":"did not ask them. And Ms. Miller and Ms. Brown presented evi-","paragraph_id":"para_168"},{"text":"dence of uncharged conduct that occurred before or after the inci-","paragraph_id":"para_169"},{"text":"dent on April 21, 2022, and did so “in a way that muddled all [the]","paragraph_id":"para_170"},{"text":"evidence together.”","paragraph_id":"para_171"},{"text":"Following the hearing, Mr. Waller appealed the panel’s de-","paragraph_id":"para_172"},{"text":"cision to Ms. Cordew. She affirmed the decision. Then Mr. Waller","paragraph_id":"para_173"},{"text":"appealed to the President of MGS. He also affirmed. Finally, Mr.","paragraph_id":"para_174"},{"text":"Waller sought discretionary review from the Vice-Chancellor of","paragraph_id":"para_175"},{"text":"Legal Affairs for the University System of Georgia. The decision","paragraph_id":"para_176"},{"text":"was affirmed again.","paragraph_id":"para_177"},{"text":"C","paragraph_id":"para_178"},{"text":"Mr. Waller filed this lawsuit in the Superior Court of Fulton","paragraph_id":"para_179"},{"text":"County, Georgia, against the Board of Regents, Houston","paragraph_id":"para_180"},{"text":"Healthcare, and several employees of each entity. The defendants","paragraph_id":"para_181"},{"text":"jointly removed the action to federal court. Mr. Waller then","paragraph_id":"para_182"},{"text":"amended his complaint twice. His operative complaint asserted a","paragraph_id":"para_183"},{"text":"breach of contract claim against the Board, a claim under 42 U.S.C.","paragraph_id":"para_184"},{"text":"§ 1983 against some employees of the Board, two disability discrim-","paragraph_id":"para_185"},{"text":"ination claims against all defendants, and a tortious interference","paragraph_id":"para_186"},{"text":"claim against Houston Healthcare.","paragraph_id":"para_187"},{"text":"For his contract claim, Mr. Waller asserts that “[t]he Student","paragraph_id":"para_188"},{"text":"Code of Conduct, the Academic Conduct Procedures, [his] syllabus","paragraph_id":"para_189"},{"text":"for RESP 4125 . . . , and other written policies” of MGS “constitute","paragraph_id":"para_190"},{"text":"USCA11 Case: 24-13307 Document: 48-1 Date Filed: 08/10/2026 Page: 7 of 19","paragraph_id":"para_191"},{"text":"8 Opinion of the Court 24-13307","paragraph_id":"para_192"},{"text":"written contracts with [its] students.” He posits that, “[i]n consid-","paragraph_id":"para_193"},{"text":"eration for their ability to attend [MGS], along with payment of tu-","paragraph_id":"para_194"},{"text":"ition and other fees, students were required to sign these written","paragraph_id":"para_195"},{"text":"agreements that they would follow these written policies and pro-","paragraph_id":"para_196"},{"text":"cedures[.]” And, he says, the President of MGS bound the Board","paragraph_id":"para_197"},{"text":"to an agreement to follow these policies by signing the Constitu-","paragraph_id":"para_198"},{"text":"tion of the Student Government Association. Thus, when the","paragraph_id":"para_199"},{"text":"Board failed to follow the requirements of the Student Code of","paragraph_id":"para_200"},{"text":"Conduct and Academic Conduct Procedures, it breached its writ-","paragraph_id":"para_201"},{"text":"ten contract with him.2","paragraph_id":"para_202"},{"text":"The Board and its employees filed a motion to dismiss all the","paragraph_id":"para_203"},{"text":"claims against them. The district court granted it in full. The court","paragraph_id":"para_204"},{"text":"dismissed the contract claim because, under Georgia law, the","paragraph_id":"para_205"},{"text":"Board enjoys sovereign immunity from suit. Though the state has","paragraph_id":"para_206"},{"text":"waived its sovereign immunity for breach of a written contract, the","paragraph_id":"para_207"},{"text":"court determined that to come within that waiver a plaintiff must","paragraph_id":"para_208"},{"text":"allege that the parties signed contemporaneous writings containing","paragraph_id":"para_209"},{"text":"all the necessary terms of a contract, and Mr. Waller had not done","paragraph_id":"para_210"},{"text":"2 On appeal, Mr. Waller argues that his admission letter and the Respiratory","paragraph_id":"para_211"},{"text":"Therapy Program Student Handbook each independently constitute written","paragraph_id":"para_212"},{"text":"contracts or, alternatively, that together they formed a single written contract.","paragraph_id":"para_213"},{"text":"His brief says that, “[w]hile [the Student Government Association] Constitu-","paragraph_id":"para_214"},{"text":"tion could potentially be relevant to [his] claims on remand and may form yet","paragraph_id":"para_215"},{"text":"another binding contract between [him] and [the Board], it is not necessary to","paragraph_id":"para_216"},{"text":"consider that document in order to find the existence of a valid written con-","paragraph_id":"para_217"},{"text":"tract[.]” Because Mr. Waller has not raised any argument pertaining to the","paragraph_id":"para_218"},{"text":"Student Government Association Constitution on appeal, we do not address","paragraph_id":"para_219"},{"text":"that document.","paragraph_id":"para_220"},{"text":"USCA11 Case: 24-13307 Document: 48-1 Date Filed: 08/10/2026 Page: 8 of 19","paragraph_id":"para_221"},{"text":"24-13307 Opinion of the Court 9","paragraph_id":"para_222"},{"text":"that. As for the discrimination claims, the court concluded that Mr.","paragraph_id":"para_223"},{"text":"Waller failed to state a claim because the complaint did not allege","paragraph_id":"para_224"},{"text":"that the Board’s employees took any action because of his disabil-","paragraph_id":"para_225"},{"text":"ity.","paragraph_id":"para_226"},{"text":"Litigation briefly proceeded against Houston Healthcare","paragraph_id":"para_227"},{"text":"and its employees, but Mr. Waller voluntarily dismissed his claims","paragraph_id":"para_228"},{"text":"against them with prejudice. Mr. Waller now appeals, challenging","paragraph_id":"para_229"},{"text":"the district court’s dismissal of his contract and discrimination","paragraph_id":"para_230"},{"text":"claims.","paragraph_id":"para_231"},{"text":"II","paragraph_id":"para_232"},{"text":"We begin with Mr. Waller’s claim for breach of contract.","paragraph_id":"para_233"},{"text":"The sole ground on which the Board sought dismissal of that claim","paragraph_id":"para_234"},{"text":"was sovereign immunity.","paragraph_id":"para_235"},{"text":"There is no dispute that the Board is covered by Georgia’s","paragraph_id":"para_236"},{"text":"sovereign immunity, but Mr. Waller contends that the Board","paragraph_id":"para_237"},{"text":"breached a “written contract” and that Georgia has waived its im-","paragraph_id":"para_238"},{"text":"munity for such claims. See Ga. Const. Art. 1, § 2, ¶ IX(c) (“The","paragraph_id":"para_239"},{"text":"state’s defense of sovereign immunity is hereby waived as to any","paragraph_id":"para_240"},{"text":"action ex contractu for the breach of any written contract now ex-","paragraph_id":"para_241"},{"text":"isting or hereafter entered into by the state or its departments and","paragraph_id":"para_242"},{"text":"agencies.”); O.C.G.A. § 50-21-1(a) (“The defense of sovereign im-","paragraph_id":"para_243"},{"text":"munity is waived as to any action ex contractu for the breach of","paragraph_id":"para_244"},{"text":"any written contract existing on April 12, 1982, or thereafter en-","paragraph_id":"para_245"},{"text":"tered into by the state, departments and agencies of the state, and","paragraph_id":"para_246"},{"text":"state authorities.”). The Board responds that it did not enter into a","paragraph_id":"para_247"},{"text":"written contract with Mr. Waller.","paragraph_id":"para_248"},{"text":"USCA11 Case: 24-13307 Document: 48-1 Date Filed: 08/10/2026 Page: 9 of 19","paragraph_id":"para_249"},{"text":"10 Opinion of the Court 24-13307","paragraph_id":"para_250"},{"text":"A","paragraph_id":"para_251"},{"text":"In deciding whether state law provides a party with sover-","paragraph_id":"para_252"},{"text":"eign immunity from suit, we are “bound by that state court’s de-","paragraph_id":"para_253"},{"text":"termination of the substantive limits of the state’s sovereign im-","paragraph_id":"para_254"},{"text":"munity protection.” CSX Transp., Inc. v. Kissimmee Util. Auth., 153","paragraph_id":"para_255"},{"text":"F.3d 1283, 1286 (11th Cir. 1998). Accord Butler v. Gualtieri, 41 F.4th","paragraph_id":"para_256"},{"text":"1329, 1335 (11th Cir. 2022).3","paragraph_id":"para_257"},{"text":"To determine the content of state law, we use the following","paragraph_id":"para_258"},{"text":"process under Erie R. Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64 (1938), and its","paragraph_id":"para_259"},{"text":"progeny. If the highest court of the state has spoken on the issue,","paragraph_id":"para_260"},{"text":"we follow its pronouncement. See Turner v. Wells, 879 F.3d 1254,","paragraph_id":"para_261"},{"text":"1262 (11th Cir. 2018). But if that court has not spoken, we must","paragraph_id":"para_262"},{"text":"predict how it would decide the issue. See id. In doing so, we “must","paragraph_id":"para_263"},{"text":"apply what [we] find to be the state law after giving ‘proper regard’","paragraph_id":"para_264"},{"text":"to relevant rulings of other courts of the [s]tate.” Comm’r v. Bosch’s","paragraph_id":"para_265"},{"text":"Est., 387 U.S. 456, 465 (1967). See generally 19 Wright & Miller, Fed.","paragraph_id":"para_266"},{"text":"Prac. & Proc. Juris. § 4507 & nn.30–32 (3d ed. & Apr. 2026 update).","paragraph_id":"para_267"},{"text":"Although state law sets the substantive boundaries of Geor-","paragraph_id":"para_268"},{"text":"gia’s sovereign immunity, “Rules 8 and 12 define the criteria for","paragraph_id":"para_269"},{"text":"assessing the sufficiency of a pleading” in federal court. See Carbone","paragraph_id":"para_270"},{"text":"3 We note that in limited circumstances, Congress may abrogate a state’s sov-","paragraph_id":"para_271"},{"text":"ereign immunity protection to enforce individual rights enshrined in the Four-","paragraph_id":"para_272"},{"text":"teenth Amendment. See Dupree v. Owens, 92 F.4th 999, 1005 (11th Cir. 2024).","paragraph_id":"para_273"},{"text":"In such circumstances, we do not defer to state courts on the substantive limits","paragraph_id":"para_274"},{"text":"of the state’s sovereign immunity protection. But no such circumstances are","paragraph_id":"para_275"},{"text":"present in this case.","paragraph_id":"para_276"},{"text":"USCA11 Case: 24-13307 Document: 48-1 Date Filed: 08/10/2026 Page: 10 of 19","paragraph_id":"para_277"},{"text":"24-13307 Opinion of the Court 11","paragraph_id":"para_278"},{"text":"v. Cable News Network, Inc., 910 F.3d 1345, 1350 (11th Cir. 2018).","paragraph_id":"para_279"},{"text":"Under Rule 12(b)(6), a court “asks only whether the complaint’s","paragraph_id":"para_280"},{"text":"factual allegations, if taken as true, ‘state a claim that is plausible on","paragraph_id":"para_281"},{"text":"its face.’” Berk v. Choy, 607 U.S. 187, 193 (2026) (quoting Bell Atl.","paragraph_id":"para_282"},{"text":"Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). A claim is facially plau-","paragraph_id":"para_283"},{"text":"sible if the plaintiff “pleads factual content that allows the court to","paragraph_id":"para_284"},{"text":"draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the","paragraph_id":"para_285"},{"text":"misconduct alleged.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). The","paragraph_id":"para_286"},{"text":"plausibility standard is not a “probability requirement, but it asks","paragraph_id":"para_287"},{"text":"for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlaw-","paragraph_id":"para_288"},{"text":"fully.” Id. (quotation marks omitted).","paragraph_id":"para_289"},{"text":"Putting these substantive and procedural standards to-","paragraph_id":"para_290"},{"text":"gether, the question at this stage is whether Mr. Waller has plausi-","paragraph_id":"para_291"},{"text":"bly alleged that he and the Board entered a “written contract” that","paragraph_id":"para_292"},{"text":"waived sovereign immunity within the meaning of Art. 1, § 2,","paragraph_id":"para_293"},{"text":"¶ IX(c) of the Georgia Constitution and O.C.G.A. § 50-21-1(a). In-","paragraph_id":"para_294"},{"text":"terpreting these two provisions, the Georgia Supreme Court has","paragraph_id":"para_295"},{"text":"explained:","paragraph_id":"para_296"},{"text":"To constitute a valid contract, there must be parties","paragraph_id":"para_297"},{"text":"able to contract, a consideration moving to the con-","paragraph_id":"para_298"},{"text":"tract, the assent of the parties to the terms of the con-","paragraph_id":"para_299"},{"text":"tract, and a subject matter upon which the contract","paragraph_id":"para_300"},{"text":"can operate. Unless all of these essential terms are in","paragraph_id":"para_301"},{"text":"writing, there is no enforceable written contract for","paragraph_id":"para_302"},{"text":"sovereign immunity purposes.","paragraph_id":"para_303"},{"text":"Dep’t of Pub. Safety v. Justice, 907 S.E.2d 817, 822 (Ga. 2024) (quota-","paragraph_id":"para_304"},{"text":"tion marks and citations omitted).","paragraph_id":"para_305"},{"text":"USCA11 Case: 24-13307 Document: 48-1 Date Filed: 08/10/2026 Page: 11 of 19","paragraph_id":"para_306"},{"text":"12 Opinion of the Court 24-13307","paragraph_id":"para_307"},{"text":"B","paragraph_id":"para_308"},{"text":"Mr. Waller asserts that his admission letter and the Respira-","paragraph_id":"para_309"},{"text":"tory Therapy Program Student Handbook each independently","paragraph_id":"para_310"},{"text":"constitute written contracts. Alternatively, he says that together","paragraph_id":"para_311"},{"text":"they form a single written contract.","paragraph_id":"para_312"},{"text":"The Handbook alone is not a written contract for purposes","paragraph_id":"para_313"},{"text":"of Georgia’s sovereign immunity waiver because no representative","paragraph_id":"para_314"},{"text":"or employee of the Board signed or manifested written agreement","paragraph_id":"para_315"},{"text":"to be bound by it. The Georgia courts have repeatedly held that","paragraph_id":"para_316"},{"text":"the sovereign party’s written assent is a necessary condition for the","paragraph_id":"para_317"},{"text":"waiver to apply. See Ga. Dep’t of Lab. v. RTT Assocs., Inc., 768 S.E.2d","paragraph_id":"para_318"},{"text":"840, 847 (Ga. 2016); Bd. of Regents of Univ. Sys. of Ga. v. Tyson, 404","paragraph_id":"para_319"},{"text":"S.E.2d 557, 559 (Ga. 1991); Patrick v. Bd. of Regents of Univ. Sys. of","paragraph_id":"para_320"},{"text":"Ga., 855 S.E.2d 746, 749 (Ga. App. 2021); Bd. of Regents of Univ. Sys.","paragraph_id":"para_321"},{"text":"of Ga. v. Barnes, 743 S.E.2d 609, 611 (Ga. App. 2013), disapproved on","paragraph_id":"para_322"},{"text":"other grounds by Wolfe v. Bd. of Regents of Univ. Sys. of Ga., 794 S.E.2d","paragraph_id":"para_323"},{"text":"85 (Ga. 2016); Bd. of Regents of Univ. Sys. of Ga. v. Ruff, 726 S.E.2d","paragraph_id":"para_324"},{"text":"451, 455 (Ga. App. 2012).4","paragraph_id":"para_325"},{"text":"The admission letter is signed by both Mr. Waller and Ms.","paragraph_id":"para_326"},{"text":"Miller, the Chair of the Respiratory Therapy Program at MGS. In","paragraph_id":"para_327"},{"text":"4 In State v. Federal Defender Program, Inc., 882 S.E.2d 257, 274 n.12 (Ga. 2022),","paragraph_id":"para_328"},{"text":"and Justice, 907 S.E.2d at 822 n.3, the Georgia Supreme Court pretermitted the","paragraph_id":"para_329"},{"text":"question of whether a writing must be signed to waive sovereign immunity.","paragraph_id":"para_330"},{"text":"We need not and do not address that issue because there is nothing in the","paragraph_id":"para_331"},{"text":"Handbook that could be construed as a written manifestation of assent by the","paragraph_id":"para_332"},{"text":"Board.","paragraph_id":"para_333"},{"text":"USCA11 Case: 24-13307 Document: 48-1 Date Filed: 08/10/2026 Page: 12 of 19","paragraph_id":"para_334"},{"text":"24-13307 Opinion of the Court 13","paragraph_id":"para_335"},{"text":"that sense, this case is different from the scenarios that the Georgia","paragraph_id":"para_336"},{"text":"Court of Appeals addressed in Patrick, Barnes, and Ruff. In each of","paragraph_id":"para_337"},{"text":"those cases, a student or parent asserted a written contract with the","paragraph_id":"para_338"},{"text":"Board, and the Court of Appeals rejected those claims because","paragraph_id":"para_339"},{"text":"none of the documents on which the plaintiffs relied were signed","paragraph_id":"para_340"},{"text":"by both parties. See Patrick, 855 S.E.2d at 749 (“None of the docu-","paragraph_id":"para_341"},{"text":"ments were signed by both parties.”); Barnes, 743 S.E.2d at 611","paragraph_id":"para_342"},{"text":"(“[N]either of these documents was signed by a representative of","paragraph_id":"para_343"},{"text":"the Board or a representative of [Valdosta State University.]”); Ruff,","paragraph_id":"para_344"},{"text":"726 S.E.2d 451, 455 (“[N]one of these documents was signed by a","paragraph_id":"para_345"},{"text":"representative of the Board . . . or a representative of the University","paragraph_id":"para_346"},{"text":"of Georgia.”).5","paragraph_id":"para_347"},{"text":"Ultimately, though, we agree with the Board that the letter","paragraph_id":"para_348"},{"text":"is not a written contract for purposes of the sovereign immunity","paragraph_id":"para_349"},{"text":"waiver because “[i]t is devoid of any express promises or obliga-","paragraph_id":"para_350"},{"text":"tions.” In Tyson, 404 S.E.2d at 558, the plaintiff asserted that his","paragraph_id":"para_351"},{"text":"written contract with the Board “was made up of all the records","paragraph_id":"para_352"},{"text":"the [university] hospital kept regarding [the plaintiff], especially a","paragraph_id":"para_353"},{"text":"document entitled ‘Consent to Hospital Care.’” The Georgia Su-","paragraph_id":"para_354"},{"text":"preme Court rejected that argument in part because “nowhere in","paragraph_id":"para_355"},{"text":"the hospital record[s] . . . [was] any signed writing establishing the","paragraph_id":"para_356"},{"text":"essential term of consideration moving to the contract.” Id. at 559","paragraph_id":"para_357"},{"text":"5 The Board claims in a conclusory manner that Ms. Miller lacks authority to","paragraph_id":"para_358"},{"text":"bind it to a contract. It also argues that even if the admission letter constituted","paragraph_id":"para_359"},{"text":"a contract, Mr. Waller did not plausibly allege that being dismissed from the","paragraph_id":"para_360"},{"text":"Respiratory Therapy Program constituted a breach of this contract. Given our","paragraph_id":"para_361"},{"text":"disposition, we do not address these issues.","paragraph_id":"para_362"},{"text":"USCA11 Case: 24-13307 Document: 48-1 Date Filed: 08/10/2026 Page: 13 of 19","paragraph_id":"para_363"},{"text":"14 Opinion of the Court 24-13307","paragraph_id":"para_364"},{"text":"(quotation marks omitted). And “[u]nless all of the[ ] essential","paragraph_id":"para_365"},{"text":"terms are in writing, there is no enforceable written contract for","paragraph_id":"para_366"},{"text":"sovereign immunity purposes.” Justice, 907 S.E.2d at 822 (quoting","paragraph_id":"para_367"},{"text":"Fed. Def. Program, 882 S.E.2d at 274).","paragraph_id":"para_368"},{"text":"The same is true here. Nothing in the admission letter es-","paragraph_id":"para_369"},{"text":"tablishes or sets out what Mr. Waller must give to MGS as consid-","paragraph_id":"para_370"},{"text":"eration in exchange for his admission to the Respiratory Therapy","paragraph_id":"para_371"},{"text":"Program. That omission is fatal to his argument that he and the","paragraph_id":"para_372"},{"text":"Board had a “written contract” waiving the Board’s sovereign im-","paragraph_id":"para_373"},{"text":"munity.","paragraph_id":"para_374"},{"text":"Mr. Waller emphasizes that the letter “refers to a mandatory","paragraph_id":"para_375"},{"text":"orientation program” and “requires [his] agreement to additional","paragraph_id":"para_376"},{"text":"‘important information’ [contained] in an attachment.” But attend-","paragraph_id":"para_377"},{"text":"ing the mandatory orientation program is merely a condition that","paragraph_id":"para_378"},{"text":"Mr. Waller must satisfy to attain the benefit that MGS is conferring","paragraph_id":"para_379"},{"text":"to him: admission into the Respiratory Therapy Program. It is not","paragraph_id":"para_380"},{"text":"a bargained-for benefit to MGS. Cf. Patel v. Patel, 877 S.E.2d 846,","paragraph_id":"para_381"},{"text":"849 (Ga. App. 2022) (“Pretermitting whether Prakash benefitted","paragraph_id":"para_382"},{"text":"from Shama’s transfer of her interest in the house, Shama’s transfer","paragraph_id":"para_383"},{"text":". . . constitutes consideration for Prakash’s promise only if it was","paragraph_id":"para_384"},{"text":"‘sought by [Prakash] in exchange for his promise and [was] given","paragraph_id":"para_385"},{"text":"by [Shama] in exchange for that promise.’”) (quoting O.C.G.A.","paragraph_id":"para_386"},{"text":"§ 13-3-42(b)). See generally 3 Williston on Contracts § 7:19 (4th ed.","paragraph_id":"para_387"},{"text":"& May 2026 update) (“[A] condition of a promise[ ] may or may not","paragraph_id":"para_388"},{"text":"be consideration, depending upon whether a reasonable person","paragraph_id":"para_389"},{"text":"would . . . understand that the performance of the condition was","paragraph_id":"para_390"},{"text":"USCA11 Case: 24-13307 Document: 48-1 Date Filed: 08/10/2026 Page: 14 of 19","paragraph_id":"para_391"},{"text":"24-13307 Opinion of the Court 15","paragraph_id":"para_392"},{"text":"requested as the price or exchange for the promise.”). As for the","paragraph_id":"para_393"},{"text":"“additional important information” in the attachment, the com-","paragraph_id":"para_394"},{"text":"plaint does not say what that information was.","paragraph_id":"para_395"},{"text":"Although we could speculate that Mr. Waller paid tuition","paragraph_id":"para_396"},{"text":"for the privilege of attending MGS—just as we could speculate that","paragraph_id":"para_397"},{"text":"the hospital in Tyson expected to receive compensation for its ser-","paragraph_id":"para_398"},{"text":"vices—the admission letter does not specify in writing any “consid-","paragraph_id":"para_399"},{"text":"eration moving to the contract.” That is what Georgia’s sovereign","paragraph_id":"para_400"},{"text":"immunity waiver for written contracts requires.","paragraph_id":"para_401"},{"text":"Finally, Mr. Waller’s theory that the admission letter and the","paragraph_id":"para_402"},{"text":"Handbook together formed a written contract also fails because the","paragraph_id":"para_403"},{"text":"Handbook does not supply the essential term that the letter is miss-","paragraph_id":"para_404"},{"text":"ing. Like the letter, the Handbook does not specify in writing what","paragraph_id":"para_405"},{"text":"benefit Mr. Waller agreed to confer upon MGS. Mr. Waller con-","paragraph_id":"para_406"},{"text":"tends that, “[i]n consideration for their ability to attend [MGS],","paragraph_id":"para_407"},{"text":"along with payment of tuition and other fees, students were re-","paragraph_id":"para_408"},{"text":"quired to sign these written agreements that they would follow","paragraph_id":"para_409"},{"text":"these written policies and procedures[.]” But, as with the orienta-","paragraph_id":"para_410"},{"text":"tion program, Mr. Waller’s promise to adhere to the Handbook’s","paragraph_id":"para_411"},{"text":"policies is a condition on his benefit (receiving an education at","paragraph_id":"para_412"},{"text":"MGS). The benefit that MGS “sought” and that Mr. Waller gave","paragraph_id":"para_413"},{"text":"“in exchange for” that education, see O.C.G.A. § 13-3-42(b), was","paragraph_id":"para_414"},{"text":"presumably the “tuition and other fees” to which the complaint re-","paragraph_id":"para_415"},{"text":"fers. But nowhere in either of the two documents on which Mr.","paragraph_id":"para_416"},{"text":"Waller relies is there any reference to what consideration he was","paragraph_id":"para_417"},{"text":"USCA11 Case: 24-13307 Document: 48-1 Date Filed: 08/10/2026 Page: 15 of 19","paragraph_id":"para_418"},{"text":"16 Opinion of the Court 24-13307","paragraph_id":"para_419"},{"text":"required to give. Thus, no document or combination of docu-","paragraph_id":"para_420"},{"text":"ments contains all the essential terms of a valid contract waiving","paragraph_id":"para_421"},{"text":"sovereign immunity.","paragraph_id":"para_422"},{"text":"As the Georgia Court of Appeals said in Patrick, 855 S.E.2d","paragraph_id":"para_423"},{"text":"at 749, Mr. Waller’s admission letter and the Handbook “might","paragraph_id":"para_424"},{"text":"demonstrate the existence of an implied contract[.]” See also Young","paragraph_id":"para_425"},{"text":"v. Grand Canyon Univ., Inc., 57 F.4th 861, 868 (11th Cir. 2023)","paragraph_id":"para_426"},{"text":"(“[T]he relationship between a student and . . . university is essen-","paragraph_id":"para_427"},{"text":"tially contractual in nature[.]”) (quotation marks omitted). But","paragraph_id":"para_428"},{"text":"“that is not enough to waive sovereign immunity.” Patrick, 855","paragraph_id":"para_429"},{"text":"S.E.2d at 749. Accord RTT Assocs., Inc., 786 S.E.2d at 843–44. Be-","paragraph_id":"para_430"},{"text":"cause Mr. Waller has not plausibly alleged the existence of written","paragraph_id":"para_431"},{"text":"contract waiving sovereign immunity, the district court properly","paragraph_id":"para_432"},{"text":"dismissed his breach of contract claim against the Board.","paragraph_id":"para_433"},{"text":"III","paragraph_id":"para_434"},{"text":"We now turn to Mr. Waller’s claims under Title II of the","paragraph_id":"para_435"},{"text":"Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12131 et seq., and § 504","paragraph_id":"para_436"},{"text":"of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. § 794. “To state a claim under","paragraph_id":"para_437"},{"text":"either Title II or § 504, a plaintiff must establish (1) that he is a qual-","paragraph_id":"para_438"},{"text":"ified individual with a disability; (2) that he was either excluded","paragraph_id":"para_439"},{"text":"from participation in or denied the benefits of a public entity’s ser-","paragraph_id":"para_440"},{"text":"vices, programs, or activities, or was otherwise discriminated","paragraph_id":"para_441"},{"text":"against by the public entity; and (3) that the exclusion, denial of","paragraph_id":"para_442"},{"text":"benefit, or discrimination was by reason of the plaintiff’s disability.”","paragraph_id":"para_443"},{"text":"Silberman v. Miami Dade Transit, 927 F.3d 1123, 1134 (11th Cir. 2019)","paragraph_id":"para_444"},{"text":"(quotation marks omitted).","paragraph_id":"para_445"},{"text":"USCA11 Case: 24-13307 Document: 48-1 Date Filed: 08/10/2026 Page: 16 of 19","paragraph_id":"para_446"},{"text":"24-13307 Opinion of the Court 17","paragraph_id":"para_447"},{"text":"As noted, to survive a motion to dismiss, a plaintiff must","paragraph_id":"para_448"},{"text":"plead a facially plausible claim. That is, he must set out sufficient","paragraph_id":"para_449"},{"text":"“factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable infer-","paragraph_id":"para_450"},{"text":"ence that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Iqbal,","paragraph_id":"para_451"},{"text":"556 U.S. at 678.","paragraph_id":"para_452"},{"text":"The operative complaint alleges that one of Mr. Waller’s in-","paragraph_id":"para_453"},{"text":"structors, Ms. Pope, communicated to Ms. Miller and Ms. Brown","paragraph_id":"para_454"},{"text":"that Mr. Waller “display[ed] a sort of nervous anxiety” and made","paragraph_id":"para_455"},{"text":"“some inappropriate statements” that was “making the staff un-","paragraph_id":"para_456"},{"text":"comfortable.” Yet the complaint then states that Ms. Pope’s opin-","paragraph_id":"para_457"},{"text":"ion of Mr. Waller “did not result in any academic or disciplinary","paragraph_id":"para_458"},{"text":"infraction” for Mr. Waller.","paragraph_id":"para_459"},{"text":"The complaint also alleges that Ms. Miller, Ms. Brown, Dr.","paragraph_id":"para_460"},{"text":"Stewart, and Dr. Underwood discussed Mr. Waller’s conditions, in-","paragraph_id":"para_461"},{"text":"cluding ADD, anxiety, and depression. Those discussions culmi-","paragraph_id":"para_462"},{"text":"nated in Dr. Stewart’s request that Mr. Waller provide certification","paragraph_id":"para_463"},{"text":"from a psychiatrist or psychologist that he could withstand the","paragraph_id":"para_464"},{"text":"stress of caring for patients.","paragraph_id":"para_465"},{"text":"Next, the complaint alleges that three Houston Hospital em-","paragraph_id":"para_466"},{"text":"ployees perceived that Mr. Waller’s performance was unsatisfac-","paragraph_id":"para_467"},{"text":"tory due to his ADD, anxiety, and depression and that they com-","paragraph_id":"para_468"},{"text":"municated these feelings to their supervisors. The supervisors then","paragraph_id":"para_469"},{"text":"passed those comments on to Ms. Miller, Ms. Brown, and others at","paragraph_id":"para_470"},{"text":"MGS.","paragraph_id":"para_471"},{"text":"But what is noticeably absent from the complaint is any non-","paragraph_id":"para_472"},{"text":"conclusory allegation suggesting that Mr. Waller was subject to an","paragraph_id":"para_473"},{"text":"USCA11 Case: 24-13307 Document: 48-1 Date Filed: 08/10/2026 Page: 17 of 19","paragraph_id":"para_474"},{"text":"18 Opinion of the Court 24-13307","paragraph_id":"para_475"},{"text":"adverse action because of his conditions. He alleges that the Hou-","paragraph_id":"para_476"},{"text":"ston Hospital employees’ complaints “led to [his] being removed","paragraph_id":"para_477"},{"text":"as a student” at MGS, that the defendants’ knowledge of his condi-","paragraph_id":"para_478"},{"text":"tions “denied [him] the opportunity to participate in and benefit","paragraph_id":"para_479"},{"text":"from the clinical externship,” and that the “[d]efendants’ actions","paragraph_id":"para_480"},{"text":"and omissions against [him] were taken solely on the basis of [his]","paragraph_id":"para_481"},{"text":"disabilities.” But these allegations, devoid of factual support, are","paragraph_id":"para_482"},{"text":"merely “[t]hreadbare recitals of the elements of [the] cause of ac-","paragraph_id":"para_483"},{"text":"tion.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678.","paragraph_id":"para_484"},{"text":"The complaint does not identify which individuals took","paragraph_id":"para_485"},{"text":"which actions because of Mr. Waller’s disabilities. The complaint","paragraph_id":"para_486"},{"text":"speculates that, in light of prior negative comments surrounding","paragraph_id":"para_487"},{"text":"his conditions or behavior, the defendants removed Mr. Waller","paragraph_id":"para_488"},{"text":"from the hospital and gave him an “F” because of those conditions.","paragraph_id":"para_489"},{"text":"But that is implausible given the other factual allegations. Accord-","paragraph_id":"para_490"},{"text":"ing to the complaint, Mr. Waller was disciplined because Houston","paragraph_id":"para_491"},{"text":"Hospital and at least seven different employees at MGS believed","paragraph_id":"para_492"},{"text":"that he had endangered the safety of a patient. Mr. Waller alleges","paragraph_id":"para_493"},{"text":"that those beliefs are mistaken and that his disciplinary hearing did","paragraph_id":"para_494"},{"text":"not adhere to MGS’ policies. We express no view on those allega-","paragraph_id":"para_495"},{"text":"tions, but regardless of whether the defendants’ beliefs were cor-","paragraph_id":"para_496"},{"text":"rect, the complaint does not permit a reasonable inference that","paragraph_id":"para_497"},{"text":"they punished or disciplined Mr. Waller because of his conditions.","paragraph_id":"para_498"},{"text":"The district court therefore correctly dismissed the Title II and","paragraph_id":"para_499"},{"text":"§ 504 claims under Rule 12(b)(6).","paragraph_id":"para_500"},{"text":"USCA11 Case: 24-13307 Document: 48-1 Date Filed: 08/10/2026 Page: 18 of 19","paragraph_id":"para_501"},{"text":"24-13307 Opinion of the Court 19","paragraph_id":"para_502"},{"text":"IV","paragraph_id":"para_503"},{"text":"We affirm the dismissal of Mr. Waller’s breach of contract,","paragraph_id":"para_504"},{"text":"ADA, and Rehabilitation Act claims.","paragraph_id":"para_505"},{"text":"AFFIRMED.","paragraph_id":"para_506"},{"text":"USCA11 Case: 24-13307 Document: 48-1 Date Filed: 08/10/2026 Page: 19 of 19","paragraph_id":"para_507"}],"word_count":4771,"cites":["551 U.S. 308","304 U.S. 64","387 U.S. 456","607 U.S. 187","550 U.S. 544","556 U.S. 662","34 F.4th 1260","153\nF.3d 1283","41 F.4th\n1329","879 F.3d 1254","92 F.4th 999","910 F.3d 1345","57 F.4th 861","927 F.3d 1123"],"cited_by":[],"sha256":"eaa4c6a316a37e46d9a2f3b9d7a49164c76b3bfc744e64dc63714f5af8bffa33","source_url":"http://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/files/202413307.pdf","fetched_at":"2026-10-01T10:21:28.476+00:00","canonical":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/ai/judgments/us/ca11-24-13307-2026-08-10","risk_graph":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:ca11-24-13307-2026-08-10","relations_graph":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:ca11-24-13307-2026-08-10","changes":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/changes","agent":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/agent?id=us:ca11-24-13307-2026-08-10","verification":{"stored_sha256":"eaa4c6a316a37e46d9a2f3b9d7a49164c76b3bfc744e64dc63714f5af8bffa33","recomputed_sha256":"eaa4c6a316a37e46d9a2f3b9d7a49164c76b3bfc744e64dc63714f5af8bffa33","intact":true,"checked_at":"2026-10-13T22:46:57.404Z"}},"hash":"sha256:c48a33f10e7f513dad28f361d75d0557744fb086e4212c14b84afd08a5f7aaa0","version":"legal-2026-10-13","expires":"2026-10-14T00:00:00.000Z","dependency":{"index_version":"legal-2026-10-13+legal-2026-10-13+2026-10-13T21:57:55","content_hash":"sha256:c48a33f10e7f513dad28f361d75d0557744fb086e4212c14b84afd08a5f7aaa0","revalidate_after":"2026-10-13T23:46:57.826Z","max_copy_age_seconds":3600,"policy":"revalidate-required; attribution-preferred","changelog":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/dependency","verify":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/verify","stale_copy_invalid":true},"canonical":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:ca11-24-13307-2026-08-10","follow":[{"rel":"risk","href":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/risk?id=us:ca11-24-13307-2026-08-10"},{"rel":"relations","href":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/relations?id=us:ca11-24-13307-2026-08-10"},{"rel":"agent","href":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/us-praxis/agent?id=us:ca11-24-13307-2026-08-10"},{"rel":"obligations","href":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/obligation-chain"},{"rel":"changes","href":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/whats-new?jurisdiction=us"}],"disclaimer":"Source reference with official identifier. 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