Case: O'Donoghue v. Board of Registrars

1:17-cv-11701 | U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Filed Date: Sept. 8, 2017

Closed Date: Oct. 24, 2017

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This case is about a candidate who ran for mayor of the City of Lawrence and filed a complaint against the City and other defendants because the voting ballots for mayor were printed without the candidate's name listed as a candidate. On September 8, 2017, the candidate filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts under the Civil Rights Act. The defendants in this case were the Board of Registrars for the City of Lawrence. The candidate alleged that they were u…

This case is about a candidate who ran for mayor of the City of Lawrence and filed a complaint against the City and other defendants because the voting ballots for mayor were printed without the candidate's name listed as a candidate. On September 8, 2017, the candidate filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts under the Civil Rights Act. The defendants in this case were the Board of Registrars for the City of Lawrence. The candidate alleged that they were unlawfully denied the right to have their name printed onto the ballot in the election for Mayor and were deprived their right to due process since the City failed to provide notification as to any corrections. The judge for this case was District Judge Patti B. Saris. 

On September 8, 2017, the candidate filed a Motion for Injunction, pro se, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts requesting that the Board of Registrars delay the election due to the fact that the candidate's name was not included on the election ballots. On September 26, 2017, the Motion for Injunction was denied due to the fact that the candidate did not demonstrate a likelihood of success on a federal claim.

On September 29, 2017, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss and opposition to plaintiff's motion for injunctive relief. On October 20, 2017, the motion to dismiss was granted and the action was dismissed.

Summary Authors

Emma Conger (11/1/2024)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/13435675/parties/odonoghue-v-board-of-registrars-city-of-lawrence/


Judge(s)

Saris, Patti B. (Massachusetts)

Attorney for Plaintiff

O'Donoghue, James Patrick (Massachusetts)

Attorney for Defendant

Boddy, Charles Dunstan (Massachusetts)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
13

1:17-cv-11701

Order Regarding Motion for Injunction

O'Donoghue v. Board of Registrars, Ci

Sept. 26, 2017

Sept. 26, 2017

Order/Opinion
17

1:17-cv-11701

Order of Dismissal

O'Donoghue v. Board of Registrars, Ci

Oct. 24, 2017

Oct. 24, 2017

Order/Opinion
16

1:17-cv-11701

Order Regarding Motion to Dismiss

O'Donoghue v. Board of Registrars, Ci

Oct. 24, 2017

Oct. 24, 2017

Order/Opinion

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/13435675/odonoghue-v-board-of-registrars-city-of-lawrence/

Last updated Aug. 20, 2025, 9:54 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants, filed by James Patrick O'Donoghue. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet and Category Sheet, # 2 Exhibit A, # 3 Exhibit C- D)(Geraldino-Karasek, Clarilde) (Entered: 09/08/2017)

Sept. 8, 2017

Sept. 8, 2017

RECAP
2

General Order 09-1, dated January 6, 2009 regarding the E-Government Act and Personal Identifiers entered. (Geraldino-Karasek, Clarilde) (Entered: 09/08/2017)

Sept. 8, 2017

Sept. 8, 2017

Clearinghouse
3

Filing fee/payment: $400.00, receipt number 1BST064264 for 1 Complaint (Coppola, Katelyn) (Entered: 09/08/2017)

Sept. 8, 2017

Sept. 8, 2017

PACER
4

( Sealed ) EXHIBIT B re 1 Complaint by James Patrick O'Donoghue. RESTRICTED pursuant to General Order 09-1 regarding the E-Government Act and Personal Identifiers (Geraldino-Karasek, Clarilde) (Entered: 09/08/2017)

Sept. 8, 2017

Sept. 8, 2017

PACER
5

ELECTRONIC NOTICE of Case Assignment. Chief Judge Patti B. Saris assigned to case. If the trial Judge issues an Order of Reference of any matter in this case to a Magistrate Judge, the matter will be transmitted to Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal. (Coppola, Katelyn) (Entered: 09/08/2017)

Sept. 8, 2017

Sept. 8, 2017

PACER
6

Summons Issued as to Board of Registrars, City of Lawrence, Charles D. Boddy, Jr, City of Lawrence - Election Division, William J. Maloney. Counsel receiving this notice electronically should download this summons, complete one for each defendant and serve it in accordance with Fed.R.Civ.P. 4 and LR 4.1. Summons will be mailed to plaintiff(s) not receiving notice electronically for completion of service. (Castilla, Francis) (Entered: 09/08/2017)

Sept. 8, 2017

Sept. 8, 2017

PACER
7

MOTION for Injunctive Relief by James Patrick O'Donoghue.(Geraldino-Karasek, Clarilde) (Entered: 09/08/2017)

Sept. 8, 2017

Sept. 8, 2017

PACER
10

SUMMONS Returned Executed William J. Maloney served on 9/11/2017, answer due 10/2/2017. (Geraldino-Karasek, Clarilde) (Entered: 09/12/2017)

Sept. 11, 2017

Sept. 11, 2017

PACER
11

SUMMONS Returned Executed City of Lawrence - Election Division served on 9/11/2017, answer due 10/2/2017. (Geraldino-Karasek, Clarilde) (Entered: 09/12/2017)

Sept. 11, 2017

Sept. 11, 2017

PACER
12

NOTICE re Documents served re 10 Summons Returned Executed, 11 Summons Returned Executed, 8 Summons Returned Executed, 9 Summons Returned Executed by James Patrick O'Donoghue(Geraldino-Karasek, Clarilde) (Entered: 09/12/2017)

Sept. 11, 2017

Sept. 11, 2017

PACER
8

SUMMONS Returned Executed Board of Registrars, City of Lawrence served on 9/11/2017, answer due 10/2/2017. (Geraldino-Karasek, Clarilde) (Entered: 09/12/2017)

Sept. 11, 2017

Sept. 11, 2017

PACER
9

SUMMONS Returned Executed Charles D. Boddy, Jr served on 9/11/2017, answer due 10/2/2017. (Geraldino-Karasek, Clarilde) (Entered: 09/12/2017)

Sept. 11, 2017

Sept. 11, 2017

PACER
13

Chief Judge Patti B. Saris: ENDORSED ORDER entered " Denied on the ground that Plaintiff does not demonstrate a likelihood of success on a federal claim " re 7 Motion for Injunctive Relief (Geraldino-Karasek, Clarilde) (Entered: 09/26/2017)

Sept. 26, 2017

Sept. 26, 2017

Clearinghouse
14

Copy re 13 Order on Motion for Injuctive Relief mailed to James Patrick O'Donoghue 288 Andover Street Lawrence, MA 01843-2246 on 9/26/2017. (Geraldino-Karasek, Clarilde) (Entered: 09/26/2017)

Sept. 26, 2017

Sept. 26, 2017

PACER
15

MOTION TO DISMISS /OPPOSITION re Injunctive Relief by Board of Registrars, City of Lawrence, Charles D. Boddy, Jr, City of Lawrence - Election Division, William J. Maloney. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Email dated August 17, 2017, # 2 Exhibit Affidavit of City Clerk)(Boddy, Charles) Modified docket text on 10/3/2017 (Geraldino-Karasek, Clarilde). (Entered: 09/29/2017)

Sept. 29, 2017

Sept. 29, 2017

PACER
16

Chief Judge Patti B. Saris: ENDORSED ORDER entered " The Motion to dismiss is ALLOWED without Opposition " re 15 MOTION TO DISMISS /OPPOSITION re Injunctive Relief (Geraldino-Karasek, Clarilde) (Entered: 10/24/2017)

Oct. 20, 2017

Oct. 20, 2017

Clearinghouse
17

Chief Judge Patti B. Saris: ORDER entered. ORDER DISMISSING CASE(Geraldino-Karasek, Clarilde) (Entered: 10/24/2017)

Oct. 24, 2017

Oct. 24, 2017

Clearinghouse
18

Copy re 16 Order on Motion to Dismiss, 17 Order Dismissing Case mailed to James Patrick O'Donoghue 288 Andover Street Lawrence, MA 01843-2246 on 10/24/2017 (Geraldino-Karasek, Clarilde) (Entered: 10/24/2017)

Oct. 24, 2017

Oct. 24, 2017

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: Massachusetts

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Special Collection(s):

Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 8, 2017

Closing Date: Oct. 24, 2017

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Canidate for Mayor

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Board of Registrars, City of Lawrence (Lawrence, Essex), City

Facility Type(s):

Government-run

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Defendant

Nature of Relief:

None

Source of Relief:

None

Amount Defendant Pays: N/A

Issues

Voting:

Election administration