Case: Olsen v. Rafn

1:18-cv-01366 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

Filed Date: Sept. 4, 2018

Closed Date: Sept. 13, 2019

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

[This summary is temporary, while we research the case.]
 
On September 4, 2018, a Northeast Wisconsin Technical College student sued the college’s district board, administrators, and security officers in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. The student challenged the college’s public assembly policy, which confined speech and literature distribution to a small, reservation-only area of campus, after security officers stopped her from handing out religiously themed Valentine’s Day cards in the student center, told her she was soliciting, and escorted her to the security office. She alleged that the policy was an unconstitutional prior restraint that was overbroad and vague, and that the officers discriminated against her based on the religious content of her speech, in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments.
 

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/7802722/parties/olsen-v-rafn/


Judge(s)

Griesbach, William C. (Wisconsin)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Esenberg, Richard M (Wisconsin)

Kamenick, Thomas C (Wisconsin)

Attorney for Defendant

Nusslock, Kathy L (Wisconsin)

Steffek, Anthony J (Wisconsin)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case
1

1:18-cv-01366

Complaint

Sept. 4, 2018

Sept. 4, 2018

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/7802722/olsen-v-rafn/

Last updated Oct. 20, 2026, 9:50 p.m.

Docket for: Olsen v. Rafn
ECF Number Date Description Link
1 Sept. 4, 2018

COMPLAINT against All Defendants by Polly Olsen. ( Filing Fee PAID $400 receipt number 0757-2912241) (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Subject Valentine3, # 2 Exhibit 2018-02-14 Security Incident Report, # 3 Exhibit Administrative Policy, # 4 Exhibit Campus Map, # 5 Exhibit Public Assembly Request, # 6 Exhibit NWTC Map, # 7 Civil Cover Sheet, # 8 Summons Rafn Summons, # 9 Summons Simpson Summons, # 10 Summons Schultz Summons, # 11 Summons Jandrin Summons, # 12 Summons Hagel Summons, # 13 Summons Hedtke Summons, # 14 Summons Schanock Summons, # 15 Summons Worrick Summons, # 16 Summons Dworak Summons, # 17 Summons Mayer Summons, # 18 Summons Rickaby Summons, # 19 Summons Sadowski Summons, # 20 Summons Stadelman Summons, # 21 Summons Villarruel Summons, # 22 Summons District Board Summons)(Esenberg, Richard)

1 Exhibit Subject Valentine3

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2 Exhibit 2018-02-14 Security Incident Report

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3 Exhibit Administrative Policy

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4 Exhibit Campus Map

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5 Exhibit Public Assembly Request

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6 Exhibit NWTC Map

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7 Civil Cover Sheet

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8 Summons Rafn Summons

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9 Summons Simpson Summons

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10 Summons Schultz Summons

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11 Summons Jandrin Summons

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12 Summons Hagel Summons

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13 Summons Hedtke Summons

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14 Summons Schanock Summons

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15 Summons Worrick Summons

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16 Summons Dworak Summons

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17 Summons Mayer Summons

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18 Summons Rickaby Summons

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19 Summons Sadowski Summons

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20 Summons Stadelman Summons

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21 Summons Villarruel Summons

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22 Summons District Board Summons

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Clearinghouse
2 Sept. 4, 2018

DISCLOSURE Statement by All Plaintiffs. (Esenberg, Richard)

RECAP
Sept. 4, 2018

NOTICE Regarding assignment of this matter to Chief Judge William C Griesbach ;Consent/refusal forms for Magistrate Judge Duffin to be filed within 21 days;the consent/refusal form is available on our website (jcl)

3 Sept. 5, 2018

Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction Form filed by All Plaintiffs. (NOTICE: Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 73 this document is not viewable by the judge.) (Esenberg, Richard)

RECAP
Sept. 5, 2018

Summons Issued as to All Defendants. (cav)

4 Oct. 22, 2018

NOTICE of Appearance by Kathy L Nusslock on behalf of All Defendants. Attorney(s) appearing: Kathy L. Nusslock (Nusslock, Kathy)

RECAP
5 Oct. 22, 2018

NOTICE of Appearance by Anthony J Steffek on behalf of All Defendants. Attorney(s) appearing: Anthony J. Steffek (Steffek, Anthony)

RECAP
6 Oct. 23, 2018

NOTICE of Hearing: Rule 16 Telephone Scheduling Conference set for 11/20/2018 at 09:00 AM before Chief Judge William C Griesbach. The court will initiate the call. Counsel are to provide the telephone number at which they can be reached (direct dial preferred) at least two days prior to the telephone conference. In the event counsel are unavailable at the scheduled time of the telephone conference, the conference may be re-scheduled and counsel may be required to appear in person. Please provide your telephone number to the Office of the Clerk at wied_clerks_gb@wied.uscourts.gov (cc: all counsel)(mac)

RECAP
7 Oct. 30, 2018

Joint REPORT of Rule 26(f) Plan by Polly Olsen. (Esenberg, Richard)

RECAP
8 Nov. 2, 2018

ANSWER to 1 Complaint,,, by All Defendants.(Steffek, Anthony)

RECAP
9 Nov. 20, 2018

Minute Entry for proceedings held before Chief Judge William C Griesbach: Rule 16 Telephone Scheduling Conference held on 11/20/2018. Discovery due by 7/1/2019, Plaintiffs Expert Witness List due by 1/2/2019, Defendants Expert Witness List due by 3/1/2019, Plaintiffs Rebuttal due by 5/1/2019, Motions due by 7/31/2019. (Tape #112018) (mac)

RECAP
10 Nov. 20, 2018

SCHEDULING ORDER signed by Chief Judge William C Griesbach on 11/20/2018. (cc: all counsel)(Griesbach, William)

RECAP
11 Feb. 12, 2019

MOTION for Summary Judgment by All Plaintiffs. (Esenberg, Richard)

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12 Feb. 12, 2019

BRIEF in Support filed by All Plaintiffs re 11 MOTION for Summary Judgment . (Esenberg, Richard)

RECAP
13 Feb. 12, 2019

Proposed Findings of Fact by All Plaintiffs (Esenberg, Richard)

RECAP
14 Feb. 12, 2019

DECLARATION of Polly Olsen In Support of Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Olsen Ex. A-Valentines)(Esenberg, Richard)

RECAP
15 Feb. 12, 2019

DECLARATION of Anthony LoCoco in Support of Plaintiff's Summary Judgment Motion (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit LoCoco Ex A- Defs' Discovery Responses, # 2 Exhibit Defs' Initial Disclosures, # 3 Exhibit Video - Security Footage, # 4 Exhibit Security Incident Report, # 5 Exhibit WILL Letter to NWTC Counsel, # 6 Exhibit Letter from NWTC to WILL, # 7 Exhibit NWTC Public Assembly Policy, # 8 Exhibit NWTC Public Assembly Request Form, # 9 Exhibit NWTC Email to WILL w/Campus Map)(Esenberg, Richard)

RECAP
16 Feb. 14, 2019

EXHIBIT C (DVD) to 15 DECLARATION of Anthony LoCoco by Polly Olsen. (cav)

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17 March 14, 2019

BRIEF in Opposition filed by All Defendants re 11 MOTION for Summary Judgment . (Steffek, Anthony)

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18 March 14, 2019

Proposed Findings of Fact by All Defendants (Steffek, Anthony)

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19 March 14, 2019

DECLARATION of Anthony J. Steffek (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibit A - Mission, Vision and Values, # 2 Exhibit Exhibit B - Plaintiff's Initial Disclosures)(Steffek, Anthony)

RECAP
20 March 14, 2019

DECLARATION of Michael J. Jandrin (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibit A - Reservation Request, # 2 Exhibit Exhibit B - Email from Randy Schultz, # 3 Exhibit Exhibit C- Security Incident Report)(Steffek, Anthony)

RECAP
21 March 14, 2019

DECLARATION of Dr. Colleen M. Simpson (Steffek, Anthony)

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22 March 28, 2019

REPLY BRIEF in Support filed by All Plaintiffs re 11 MOTION for Summary Judgment . (Esenberg, Richard)

RECAP
23 March 28, 2019

DECLARATION of Anthony LoCoco (2nd) (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Ex. A NWTC Policy, # 2 Exhibit Ex. B NWTC Maps, # 3 Exhibit EX. C NWTC Public Assembly Form)(Esenberg, Richard)

RECAP
24 March 28, 2019

Additional Proposed Findings of Fact by All Plaintiffs (Esenberg, Richard)

RECAP
25 April 11, 2019

7(h) MOTION for Leave to File Surreply by All Defendants. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Defendants' Surreply Memorandum of Law in Further Opposition to Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment)(Steffek, Anthony) Modified event and terminated multipart motion on 4/12/2019 (lh).

RECAP
26 April 17, 2019

BRIEF in Opposition filed by All Plaintiffs re 11 MOTION for Summary Judgment, 25 MOTION to Expedite 7(h) MOTION for Leave to File Surreply . (Esenberg, Richard)

RECAP
27 Sept. 13, 2019

DECISION AND ORDER GRANTING 11 Motion for Summary Judgment and GRANTING 25 Motion for Leave to File Sur-Reply, signed by Chief Judge William C Griesbach on 09-12-2019. The Clerk is directed to enter judgment in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendants for nominal damages in the amount of one (1) dollar, declaring that the defendants violated the plaintiff's First Amendment rights by prohibiting her from handing out Valentines on February 14, 2018, and enjoining the defendants f rom applying NWTCs Freedom of Speech, Expression, and Public Assembly Policy so as to prohibit students from offering other students Valentines or similar notes. (cc: all counsel) (Griesbach, William) (Document replaced with lightly edited and corrected version)(tlf)

RECAP
28 Sept. 13, 2019

JUDGMENT entered by Deputy Clerk in favor of Polly Olsen and against Defendants; approved by Chief Judge William C Griesbach on 9/13/2019. (cc: all counsel)(tlf)

RECAP
29 Sept. 26, 2019

Joint MOTION To Postpone Proceedings Regarding Attorney Fees and Costs by Northeast Wisconsin Technical College District Board. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Proposed Order)(Nusslock, Kathy)

1 Exhibit Proposed Order

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RECAP
30 Oct. 3, 2019

TEXT ONLY ORDER GRANTING 29 Joint MOTION To Postpone Proceedings Regarding Attorney Fees and Costs, signed by Chief Judge William C Griesbach on 10/3/2019. The deadline for the Plaintiff to seek attorneys fees and to tax costs in this action is postponed to 10/11/2019. (cc: all counsel)(Griesbach, William)

RECAP
Oct. 3, 2019

Text Only Order

Oct. 3, 2019

~Util - Terminate Motions

31 March 30, 2020

Original Document

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory:

Wisconsin

Case Type(s):

Speech and Religious Freedom

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 4, 2018

Closing Date: Sept. 13, 2019

Case Ongoing: No reason to think so

Case Details

Other Dockets:

Eastern District of Wisconsin 1:18-cv-01366

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Recommended Citation