Filed Date: June 15, 2021
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
This case is one of several brought challenging the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) classification of “socially disadvantaged groups.”
A farmer filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee Eastern Division (Jackson) on June 15, 2021. The sole defendant was the Secretary of Agriculture who leads the USDA. Plaintiff challenged Section 1005 of the ARP which provided loan forgiveness to farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic only if they qualified as “socially disadvantaged.” The USDA defined “socially disadvantaged” as a farmer or rancher who was from one or more of the following ethnic groups: African Americans, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Asians, Hispanics, and Pacific Islanders. Plaintiff alleged this debt relief program discriminated on the basis of race in violation of equal protection. Relief sought included declaratory and injunctive relief and attorney's fees. Plaintiff was represented by the Liberty Justice Center, a non-profit that seeks to protect those claiming their “constitutional rights have been violated.” Chief Judge S. Thomas Anderson was assigned.
The government moved to stay all proceedings pending the resolution of the class action challenges to Section 1005 in Miller v. Vilsack (PB-TX-0017) on July 16, 2021. In Miller, the district court had both preliminarily enjoined the enforcement of Section 1005 and certified two classes of farmers bringing similar claims of discrimination.
Judge Anderson granted the defendants' motion for a stay on September 13, 2021. As of October 2021, the case remains stayed while Miller is pending.
Summary Authors
Eric Gripp (8/9/2021)
Jonah Hudson-Erdman (10/31/2021)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/59986502/parties/joyner-v-vilsack/
Anderson, Stanley Thomas (Tennessee)
York, Jon A. (Tennessee)
Jennings, Jeffrey D (Illinois)
Kelsey, Brian K (Illinois)
Stephens, Reilly (Illinois)
Boynton, Brian M (District of Columbia)
Calkins, Audrey M (Tennessee)
Farby, Lesley (District of Columbia)
Feldon, Gary Daniel (District of Columbia)
Knapp, Michael Fraser (District of Columbia)
Anderson, Stanley Thomas (Tennessee)
York, Jon A. (Tennessee)
Jennings, Jeffrey D (Illinois)
Kelsey, Brian K (Illinois)
Stephens, Reilly (Illinois)
Boynton, Brian M (District of Columbia)
Calkins, Audrey M (Tennessee)
Farby, Lesley (District of Columbia)
Feldon, Gary Daniel (District of Columbia)
Knapp, Michael Fraser (District of Columbia)
Murphy, Joseph C (Tennessee)
Newton, Emily Sue (District of Columbia)
Snow, Kyla (District of Columbia)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/59986502/joyner-v-vilsack/
Last updated May 13, 2022
State / Territory: Tennessee
Case Type(s):
Public Benefits/Government Services
Special Collection(s):
Challenges to minority benefits in Biden Administration American Rescue Plan
Key Dates
Filing Date: June 15, 2021
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
A white farmer from Gibson County, Tennessee
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
U.S. Department of Agriculture (Washington), Federal
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Ex Parte Young (Federal) or Bivens
Ex parte Young (federal or state officials)
Constitutional Clause(s):
Availably Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General:
Public benefits (includes, e.g., in-state tuition, govt. jobs)
Discrimination-area:
Discrimination-basis:
Race:
Benefit Source: