Case: Glatt v. City of Pasco

4:16-cv-05108 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington

Filed Date: Aug. 4, 2016

Closed Date: May 2, 2017

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This is a case challenging a Washington city's election process as diluting the voting power of Latinos in the city. The plaintiff, a private individual, filed this action against the defendant, the City of Pasco, in the State of Washington in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington on August 04, 2016.  The case was presided over by Judge Lonny R. Suko. Plaintiff sued the defendant on grounds that its implementation of "at-large" elections for city council member…

This is a case challenging a Washington city's election process as diluting the voting power of Latinos in the city.

The plaintiff, a private individual, filed this action against the defendant, the City of Pasco, in the State of Washington in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington on August 04, 2016.  The case was presided over by Judge Lonny R. Suko. Plaintiff sued the defendant on grounds that its implementation of "at-large" elections for city council members in accordance with Wash. Rev. Code 35A.12.180 violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act because it effectively diluted the voting power of Latinos and deprived Latino voters of the opportunity to fully participate in the electoral process by precluding them from electing candidates of their choice. Plaintiffs sought injunctive and declaratory relief.

On September 02, 2016, the parties jointly filed a Partial Consent Decree, under which the City stipulated that its implementation of at-large elections for city council members as currently conducted was in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Pursuant to the Partial Consent Decree, the Court executed an order which enjoined the City from its continued implementation of at-large elections, including the 2017 election, for city council members and instructed the party to make an attempt to reach an agreement on a remedial redistricting plan to comply with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, or in the alternative to submit their respective proposed remedial redistricting plans. 

The parties submitted their proposed remedial redistricting plans, and on January 27, 2017, the Court entered judgment in favor of the City's proposed remedial redistricting plan to comply with Section 2 of the voting Rights Act and executed an order on the same date, which required the City to take steps to immediately implement its plan before the 2017 election.

On May 2, 2017, the parties filed a joint motion and proposed order to amend the judgment to make minor changes to the City's proposed remedial redistricting plans, which did not materially alter the judgment.

On May 4, 2017, the Court executed the parties proposed order in accordance with their motion to amend the judgment, which finally resolved the case. 

Summary Authors

Kierre Elvington (5/15/2024)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4408925/parties/glatt-v-city-of-pasco/


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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
001-2

4:16-cv-05108

Summons in a Civil Action (Francik)

Aug. 4, 2016

Aug. 4, 2016

Pleading / Motion / Brief
001

4:16-cv-05108

Complaint

Aug. 4, 2016

Aug. 4, 2016

Complaint
013-1

4:16-cv-05108

Proposed Order Regarding Joint Motion to Expedite Entry of Partial Consent Decree

Aug. 22, 2016

Aug. 22, 2016

Pleading / Motion / Brief
013

4:16-cv-05108

Joint Motion to Expedite Joint Motion for Entry of Partial Consent Decree

Aug. 22, 2016

Aug. 22, 2016

Pleading / Motion / Brief
016

4:16-cv-05108

Partial Consent Decree

Sept. 2, 2016

Sept. 2, 2016

Order/Opinion
015

4:16-cv-05108

Order Granting Motion for Entry of Partial Consent Decree

Sept. 2, 2016

Sept. 2, 2016

Order/Opinion
026-02

4:16-cv-05108

Ex. 02 - Ordinance No. 4209

Oct. 15, 2016

Oct. 15, 2016

Pleading / Motion / Brief
026

4:16-cv-05108

Declaration of John A. Safarli in Support of City's Motion for Entry of Proposed Remedial Plan and Final Injunction

Oct. 15, 2016

Oct. 15, 2016

Pleading / Motion / Brief
026-3

4:16-cv-05108

Ex. 03 - Modifications to the City Council Boundaries made on July 1, 2015

Oct. 15, 2016

Oct. 15, 2016

Pleading / Motion / Brief
026-4

4:16-cv-05108

Ex. 04 - Correspondence between City and the Franklin County Auditor

Oct. 15, 2016

Oct. 15, 2016

Pleading / Motion / Brief

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4408925/glatt-v-city-of-pasco/

Last updated Aug. 8, 2025, 7:18 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link

Notice of Judge Assignment

Aug. 4, 2016

Aug. 4, 2016

PACER
1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 400; Receipt # 0980-2401606) Filed by Bertha Aranda Glatt. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons Francik, # 3 Summons Hoffman, # 4 Summons Larsen, # 5 Summons Martinez, # 6 Summons City of Pasco, # 7 Summons Watkins, # 8 Summons Yenney)(Baker, La Rond) (Entered: 08/04/2016)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on RECAP

2 Summons Francik

View on RECAP

3 Summons Hoffman

View on RECAP

4 Summons Larsen

View on RECAP

5 Summons Martinez

View on RECAP

6 Summons City of Pasco

View on RECAP

7 Summons Watkins

View on RECAP

8 Summons Yenney

View on RECAP

Aug. 4, 2016

Aug. 4, 2016

RECAP
2

Summons Issued as to City of Pasco, Rebecca Francik, Bob Hoffman, Tom Larsen, Saul Martinez, Matt Watkins, Al Yenney. (Attachments: # 1 Summons - Francik, # 2 Summons - Hoffman, # 3 Summons - Larsen, # 4 Summons - Martinez, # 5 Summons - Watkins, # 6 Summons - Yenney)(VR, Courtroom Deputy) (Entered: 08/04/2016)

Aug. 4, 2016

Aug. 4, 2016

PACER
3

Notice of Appearance

Aug. 15, 2016

Aug. 15, 2016

PACER
4

Waiver of Service Executed

Aug. 16, 2016

Aug. 16, 2016

PACER
5

Waiver of Service Executed

Aug. 16, 2016

Aug. 16, 2016

PACER
6

Waiver of Service Executed

Aug. 16, 2016

Aug. 16, 2016

PACER
7

Waiver of Service Executed

Aug. 16, 2016

Aug. 16, 2016

PACER
8

Waiver of Service Executed

Aug. 16, 2016

Aug. 16, 2016

PACER
9

Waiver of Service Executed

Aug. 16, 2016

Aug. 16, 2016

PACER
10

Waiver of Service Executed

Aug. 16, 2016

Aug. 16, 2016

PACER
11

Notice of Association of Counsel

Aug. 19, 2016

Aug. 19, 2016

PACER
12

Miscellaneous Relief

Aug. 22, 2016

Aug. 22, 2016

PACER
13

Expedite

1 Text of Proposed Order Proposed Order

View on RECAP

Aug. 22, 2016

Aug. 22, 2016

RECAP

Order on Motion to Expedite

Aug. 25, 2016

Aug. 25, 2016

PACER
15

Order on Motion for Miscellaneous Relief

Sept. 2, 2016

Sept. 2, 2016

RECAP
16

PARTIAL CONSENT DECREE. Signed by Senior Judge Lonny R. Suko. (SK, Case Administrator)

Sept. 2, 2016

Sept. 2, 2016

RECAP
17

Notice of Appearance

Sept. 6, 2016

Sept. 6, 2016

PACER
18

Notice of Appearance

Sept. 7, 2016

Sept. 7, 2016

PACER
19

Answer to Complaint

Oct. 6, 2016

Oct. 6, 2016

PACER
20

Notice of Appearance

Oct. 13, 2016

Oct. 13, 2016

PACER
21

Permanent Injunction

1 Text of Proposed Order Proposed Order

View on RECAP

2 Exhibit Exhibit A to Proposed Order

View on RECAP

Oct. 15, 2016

Oct. 15, 2016

RECAP
22

Declaration in Support of Motion

1 Exhibit A

View on RECAP

2 Exhibit B

View on RECAP

3 Exhibit C

View on RECAP

Oct. 15, 2016

Oct. 15, 2016

RECAP
23

Declaration in Support of Motion

Oct. 15, 2016

Oct. 15, 2016

RECAP
24

Declaration in Support of Motion

Oct. 15, 2016

Oct. 15, 2016

RECAP
25

Miscellaneous Relief

Oct. 15, 2016

Oct. 15, 2016

PACER
26

Declaration in Support of Motion

1 Exhibit Exhibit 1

View on RECAP

2 Exhibit Exhibit 2

View on RECAP

3 Exhibit Exhibit 3

View on RECAP

4 Exhibit Exhibit 4

View on RECAP

5 Exhibit Exhibit 5

View on RECAP

6 Exhibit Exhibit 6

View on RECAP

7 Exhibit Exhibit 7

View on RECAP

8 Exhibit Exhibit 8

View on RECAP

9 Exhibit Exhibit 9

View on RECAP

10 Exhibit Exhibit 10

View on RECAP

11 Exhibit Exhibit 11

View on RECAP

12 Exhibit Exhibit 12

View on RECAP

13 Exhibit Exhibit 13

View on RECAP

Oct. 15, 2016

Oct. 15, 2016

RECAP
27

Response to Motion

Nov. 1, 2016

Nov. 1, 2016

RECAP
28

Declaration in Opposition to Motion

Nov. 1, 2016

Nov. 1, 2016

RECAP
29

Declaration in Opposition to Motion

Nov. 1, 2016

Nov. 1, 2016

RECAP
30

Response to Motion

1 Appendix Incumbency Map

View on RECAP

Nov. 1, 2016

Nov. 1, 2016

RECAP
31

Reply Memorandum

Nov. 15, 2016

Nov. 15, 2016

RECAP
32

Declaration in Support of Motion

Nov. 15, 2016

Nov. 15, 2016

RECAP
33

Reply Memorandum

1 Exhibit 1 (First Supplemental Report of Dr. Morrison)

View on RECAP

2 Exhibit 2 (Second Supplemental Report of Dr. Morrison)

View on RECAP

Nov. 15, 2016

Nov. 15, 2016

RECAP

Set/Reset Motion Hearing

Nov. 16, 2016

Nov. 16, 2016

PACER
34

Objections

Nov. 18, 2016

Nov. 18, 2016

RECAP
35

Response - Non Motion

1 LR 7.1(f)(3) unpublished case

View on RECAP

Nov. 18, 2016

Nov. 18, 2016

RECAP
36

File Excess Pages

Nov. 18, 2016

Nov. 18, 2016

PACER

Order on Motion for Leave to File Excess Pages

Nov. 23, 2016

Nov. 23, 2016

PACER

Notice of Hearing on Motion - By Court

Dec. 6, 2016

Dec. 6, 2016

PACER
39

Motion Hearing

Dec. 7, 2016

Dec. 7, 2016

RECAP
40

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER. Granting 25 Defendants' MOTION Remedial Plan and Final Injunction re 16 Consent Decree filed by Saul Martinez, City of Pasco, Rebecca Francik, Matt Watkins, Al Yenney, Tom Larsen, Bob Hoffman; and denying 21 Plaintiff's MOTION for Permanent Injunction filed by Bertha Aranda Glatt. Signed by Senior Judge Lonny R. Suko. (SK, Case Administrator)

Jan. 27, 2017

Jan. 27, 2017

RECAP
41

JUDGMENT in favor of City of Pasco, Al Yenney, Bob Hoffman, Matt Watkins, Rebecca Francik, Saul Martinez, Tom Larsen against Bertha Aranda Glatt. (SK, Case Administrator)

Jan. 27, 2017

Jan. 27, 2017

RECAP
42

Order Closing File

March 2, 2017

March 2, 2017

RECAP
43

Expedite

May 2, 2017

May 2, 2017

PACER
44

Submission of Proposed Order

May 2, 2017

May 2, 2017

RECAP
45

Miscellaneous Relief

1 Exhibit

View on RECAP

2 Exhibit

View on RECAP

3 Exhibit

View on RECAP

4 Exhibit

View on RECAP

May 2, 2017

May 2, 2017

RECAP
46

Submission of Proposed Order

1 Exhibit

View on RECAP

2 Exhibit

View on RECAP

May 2, 2017

May 2, 2017

RECAP
47

Order on Motion for Miscellaneous Relief AND Order on Motion to Expedite

1 Exhibit A

View on RECAP

May 4, 2017

May 4, 2017

RECAP
48

Judgment Amended - Clerk

May 4, 2017

May 4, 2017

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory: Washington

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Special Collection(s):

Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project

Key Dates

Filing Date: Aug. 4, 2016

Closing Date: May 2, 2017

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

A private individual

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

ACLU Affiliates (any)

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

City of Pasco, Washington (Pasco, Franklin, West Virginia), City

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Voting Rights Act, section 2, 52 U.S.C. § 10301 (previously 42 U.S.C. § 1973)

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Non-settlement Outcome

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Declaratory Judgment

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Content of Injunction:

Voting Process Changes

Order Duration: 2016 - None

Issues

Voting:

Challenges to at-large/multimember district/election

Vote dilution