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Filed Date: June 9, 2000
Closed Date: 2005
Clearinghouse coding complete
On June 9, 2000, three parents, as guardians ad litem of their minor daughters, filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota against the South Dakota High School Activities Association. The students represented in the suit were all members of volleyball teams at high schools within the Association. The plaintiffs alleged that the Association violated Title IX of the Education Amendments and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment by requiring girls volleyball to be played during the winter season.
At the time the suit was filed, girls high school volleyball was played during the fall season in 46 of 50 states. All South Dakota boys high school athletic teams played their schedules during the traditional seasons for their sports. The complaint alleged that the South Dakota girls high school volleyball players were denied opportunities provided to South Dakota's male high school athletes. By requiring the sport to be played in the winter, the South Dakota girls were prevented from effectively competing for college athletic scholarships. The plaintiffs sought a permanent injunction requiring the Association to schedule girls high school volleyball during the traditional fall season.
On November 6, 2000, Judge Lawrence L. Piersol granted a motion for intervention by the United States. The United States filed an amended complaint on November 7, 2000. On December 5, 2000, the parties filed a stipulation agreeing that the Association would schedule girls volleyball during the traditional fall season for every school year, beginning with the 2002-2003 school year. The Association would also schedule girls high school basketball during the traditional winter season and would reimburse the plaintiffs for their attorneys' fees. Finally, within 180 days of the Consent Order, the Association would submit to the court and all parties a detailed plan establishing how the Association would implement the transition and new scheduling of the girls high school volleyball and basketball season. After, the Association would submit to the court and the parties a report annually for two consecutive years describing how the Association had completely and successfully implemented the approved plan. Judge Piersol entered a consent order approving the stipulation that same day.
The Association submitted the plan to implement the season transition on May 11, 2001. After oral arguments, Judge Piersol approved the plan on August 30, 2001. The Association filed the required annual reports on August 28, 2003 and August 27, 2004. Judge Piersol directed dissolution of the consent order and dismissed the case on June 29, 2005.
Summary Authors
Carlyn Williams (2/24/2014)
Piersol, Lawrence L. (South Dakota)
Entwistle, Frederick M. (South Dakota)
Fuller, William P. (South Dakota)
Brown, John L. (South Dakota)
Active
Active
Active
Active
Active
Active
Piersol, Lawrence L. (South Dakota)
Entwistle, Frederick M. (South Dakota)
Fuller, William P. (South Dakota)
Brown, John L. (South Dakota)
Dunne, Sarah A. (District of Columbia)
Lee, Bill Lann (District of Columbia)
Marshall, Franz (District of Columbia)
McBride, Ted L. (South Dakota)
Norton, Helen L. (District of Columbia)
Ulrich, Bonnie P. (South Dakota)
Last updated Dec. 3, 2022, 3 a.m.
State / Territory: South Dakota
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: June 9, 2000
Closing Date: 2005
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Parents on behalf of minor daughters who were student athletes of South Dakota Public Schools.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
South Dakota High School Activities Association, School District
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq.
Constitutional Clause(s):
Availably Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Order Duration: 2002 - 2005
Content of Injunction:
Issues
General:
Discrimination-area:
Discrimination-basis:
Affected Gender:
Type of Facility: