Filed Date: Aug. 5, 2003
Closed Date: 2004
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On August 5, 2003, parents, as next friends of their three minor, student daughters, filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama under the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq. against Gadsden City School District and its superintendent. Plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief, claiming that Gadsden City Schools had violated Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972, 20 U.S.C. § 1681 by denying plaintiffs' daughters' an equal opportunity to participate in interscholastic and other school-sponsored athletics and the equal treatment and benefits that must necessarily accompany them.
Specifically, plaintiffs claimed that Gadsden City Schools discriminated against plaintiffs' daughters in the accommodation of student interests and abilities; the funding of athletics; access to equipment and supplies; the scheduling of games and practice times; travel; the assignment and compensation of coaches; and the provision of locker rooms and facilities for both practice and competition and training facilities and services.
On October 15, 2003, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama (Judge Robert B. Propst) dismissed with prejudice all claims against the superintendent. On May 7, 2004, the parties entered into a settlement agreement, settling all issues except the payment of attorneys' fees. On November 2, 2004, the Court dismissed with prejudice all claims in accordance with the parties' settlement agreement. On November 5, 2004, the parties entered into another settlement agreement settling the issue of attorneys' fees for $43,000.
The case was closed on November 2, 2004.
Summary Authors
Heather Turner (3/24/2014)
Propst, Robert Bruce (Alabama)
Schiller, Samuel (Tennessee)
Yasser, Raymond (Oklahoma)
Knowles, Christie D (Alabama)
Sullivan, Joshua B. (Alabama)
Propst, Robert Bruce (Alabama)
Last updated Feb. 22, 2024, 3:04 a.m.
State / Territory: Alabama
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Key Dates
Filing Date: Aug. 5, 2003
Closing Date: 2004
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Parents as next friends of their three minor student daughters.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Gadsden City School District (Gadsen, Etowah), School District
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Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq.
Constitutional Clause(s):
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Outcome
Prevailing Party: Mixed
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Issues
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