Case: United States of America v. Hendry County School District

1:70-cv-01069 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Filed Date: July 17, 1970

Closed Date: Aug. 5, 2025

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

[This summary is temporary while we research the case.] This was a lawsuit challenging operation of a dual school system based on race in Hendry County, Florida. Originally filed on July 17, 1970, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, proceedings in the case included a preliminary order, in 1970, requiring conversion from a dual to a unitary school system, a permanent injunction, issued in 1975, prohibiting operation of a dual school system and requiring the district …

[This summary is temporary while we research the case.] This was a lawsuit challenging operation of a dual school system based on race in Hendry County, Florida. Originally filed on July 17, 1970, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, proceedings in the case included a preliminary order, in 1970, requiring conversion from a dual to a unitary school system, a permanent injunction, issued in 1975, prohibiting operation of a dual school system and requiring the district to take certain actions to prevent segregation and to ensure non-discrimination in student assignment, staffing, transportation, school construction and site selection, inter-district transfers, and other programs. The court retained jurisdiction to enforce the 1975 injunction. In 2017, the court granted the parties’ joint motion seeking declaration of partial unitary status, related to student assignment between schools, transportation, facilities, and extracurricular activities, and entered an order directing the district to comply with the parties' stipulation. In 2021, the court did the same as to faculty and staff recruiting. On July 23, 2025, the parties stipulated to dismissal of the action with prejudice, agreeing that the district was unitary with respect to the remaining areas of compliance -- within-school segregation related to student discipline -- and that it had implemented the provisions of the 2021 stipulation and demonstrated full and good faith compliance for a reasonable period. On August 5, 2025, the court closed the case. 

 

 

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5736015/parties/united-states-v-hendry-county-school-district/


Judge(s)

Moreno, Federico A. (Florida)

Attorney for Plaintiff

AUSA, Noticing Non (Florida)

Feaman, Peter Marshall (Florida)

Hamilton, Andrea E. (Florida)

Harrell-James, Veronica Vanessa (Florida)

Attorney for Defendant

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:70-cv-01069

Opinion

United States of America v. Board of Public Instruction of Hendry County

March 5, 1974

March 5, 1974

Order/Opinion

373 F.Supp. 92

74-02400

Opinion

United States of America. v. Hendry County School District

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Nov. 11, 1974

Nov. 11, 1974

Order/Opinion

504 F.2d 550

116

1:70-cv-01069

Notice of Filing

United States of America v. Hendry County School Districts

Nov. 13, 2009

Nov. 13, 2009

Notice of Investigation or Suit/Demand Letter

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5736015/united-states-v-hendry-county-school-district/

Last updated Aug. 21, 2025, 2:53 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
115

Copy of Paper Docket Sheet Including up to Docket Entry 114. (dm) (Main Document 115 replaced on 12/4/2009) (ra1). (Entered: 11/13/2009)

Nov. 13, 2009

Nov. 13, 2009

PACER
116

ORDER/NOTICE OF FILING CORRESPONDENCE. Signed by Chief Judge Federico A. Moreno on 11/12/2009. (dm) (Entered: 11/13/2009)

Nov. 13, 2009

Nov. 13, 2009

PACER
117

Joint MOTION for Declaration of Partial Unitary Status and for Approval of Stipulation Regarding Faculty and Staff Recruiting and Student Discipline by United States of America. Attorney Veronica Vanessa Harrell-James added to party United States of America(pty:pla). (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Stipulation, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Harrell-James, Veronica) (Entered: 01/13/2017)

Jan. 13, 2017

Jan. 13, 2017

PACER
118

NOTICE of Attorney Appearance by Andrea E. Hamilton on behalf of United States of America. Attorney Andrea E. Hamilton added to party United States of America(pty:pla). (Hamilton, Andrea) (Entered: 01/19/2017)

Jan. 19, 2017

Jan. 19, 2017

PACER
119

ORDER granting 117 Joint Motion for Declaration of Partial Unitary Status and for Approval of Stipulation regarding Faculty and Staff Recruitment and Student Discipline. Signed by Judge Federico A. Moreno on 1/20/2017. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit: Stipulation Regarding Faculty and Staff Recruitment and Student Discipline) (mmd) (Entered: 01/23/2017)

Jan. 23, 2017

Jan. 23, 2017

RECAP
120

NOTICE by Hendry County School District . Attorney Warren Russell Ross added to party Hendry County School District(pty:dft). (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Report dated September 25, 2017) (Ross, Warren) (Entered: 10/20/2017)

Oct. 20, 2017

Oct. 20, 2017

PACER
121

NOTICE by Hendry County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Report dated 12/17/18) (Ross, Warren) (Entered: 06/21/2019)

June 21, 2019

June 21, 2019

PACER
122

NOTICE of Attorney Appearance by Molly Lauren Shaddock on behalf of Hendry County School District. Attorney Molly Lauren Shaddock added to party Hendry County School District(pty:dft). (Shaddock, Molly) (Entered: 09/08/2021)

Sept. 8, 2021

Sept. 8, 2021

PACER
123

Joint MOTION for Declaration of Partial Unitary Status Regarding Faculty and Staff and For Approval of Revised Stipulation Regarding Student Discipline by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Stipulation Regarding Student Discipline, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Harrell-James, Veronica) (Entered: 09/20/2021)

Sept. 20, 2021

Sept. 20, 2021

PACER
124

ORDER granting 123 Joint Motion for Declaration of Partial Unitary Status Regarding Faculty and Staff and for Approval of Revised Stipulation Regarding Student Discipline. Signed by Judge Federico A. Moreno on 10/25/2021. See attached document for full details. (mmd) (Entered: 10/26/2021)

Oct. 26, 2021

Oct. 26, 2021

PACER
125

NOTICE by Hendry County School District of Filing Reporting Requirement (Attachments: # 1 Report Regarding Stipulation Regarding Student Discipline, # 2 Exhibit 2b, # 3 Exhibit 2c, # 4 Exhibit 2d, # 5 Exhibit 2e) (Shaddock, Molly) (Entered: 01/31/2022)

Jan. 31, 2022

Jan. 31, 2022

PACER
126

NOTICE by Hendry County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Report, # 2 Exhibit 2b, # 3 Exhibit 2c, # 4 Exhibit 2d, # 5 Exhibit 2e) (Shaddock, Molly) (Entered: 06/30/2022)

June 30, 2022

June 30, 2022

PACER
127

NOTICE by Hendry County School District (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit 4, # 5 Exhibit 5, # 6 Exhibit 6, # 7 Exhibit 7, # 8 Exhibit 8, # 9 Exhibit 9, # 10 Exhibit 10, # 11 Exhibit 11, # 12 Exhibit 12, # 13 Exhibit 13, # 14 Exhibit 14, # 15 Exhibit 15, # 16 Exhibit 16, # 17 Exhibit 17, # 18 Exhibit 18) (Shaddock, Molly) (Entered: 01/31/2023)

Jan. 31, 2023

Jan. 31, 2023

PACER
128

STIPULATED MOTION for Substitution of Counsel. Substituting Madison Tanner for Molly Shaddock by Hendry County School District. Responses due by 10/2/2023 (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Shaddock, Molly) (Entered: 09/18/2023)

Sept. 18, 2023

Sept. 18, 2023

PACER
129

ORDER granting 128 Motion for Substitution of Counsel. Attorney Molly Lauren Shaddock representing Hendry County School District (Defendant) terminated. Signed by Judge Federico A. Moreno on 9/21/2023. See attached document for full details. (mmd) (Entered: 09/21/2023)

Sept. 21, 2023

Sept. 21, 2023

PACER
130

Unopposed MOTION to Withdraw as Attorney by Andrea Hamilton for / by United States of America. Responses due by 5/22/2025. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Hamilton, Andrea) (Entered: 05/08/2025)

May 8, 2025

May 8, 2025

PACER
131

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 130 Motion to Withdraw as Attorney. Andrea E. Hamilton representing United States of America (Plaintiff) withdrawn from case. Signed by Judge Federico A. Moreno on 5/14/2025. (mmd) (Entered: 05/14/2025)

May 14, 2025

May 14, 2025

PACER

Order on Motion to Withdraw as Attorney

May 14, 2025

May 14, 2025

PACER
132

NOTICE of Attorney Appearance by Peter Marshall Feaman on behalf of United States of America. Attorney Peter Marshall Feaman added to party United States of America(pty:pla). (Feaman, Peter) (Entered: 06/25/2025)

June 25, 2025

June 25, 2025

PACER
133

NOTICE of Attorney Appearance by Madison Allen Tanner on behalf of Hendry County School District. Attorney Madison Allen Tanner added to party Hendry County School District(pty:dft). (Tanner, Madison) (Entered: 07/23/2025)

July 23, 2025

July 23, 2025

PACER
134

STIPULATION of Dismissal with prejudice pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(ii) by United States of America (Feaman, Peter) (Entered: 07/23/2025)

July 23, 2025

July 23, 2025

RECAP
135

PAPERLESS ORDER Dismissing Case with Prejudice, in view of 134 Joint Stipulation of Dismissal. Signed by Judge Federico A. Moreno on 8/5/2025. (ms04) (Entered: 08/05/2025)

Aug. 5, 2025

Aug. 5, 2025

PACER

Order Dismissing/Closing Case or Party

Aug. 5, 2025

Aug. 5, 2025

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: Florida

Case Type(s):

School Desegregation

Key Dates

Filing Date: July 17, 1970

Closing Date: Aug. 5, 2025

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Defendant Type(s):

Elementary/Secondary School

Outcome

Order Duration: 1975 - 2025