Case: Farm Labor Org. Comm. v. Ohio State Highway Patrol
3:96-cv-07580 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
Filed Date: Sept. 18, 1996
Closed Date: 2003
Clearinghouse coding complete
Case Summary
On September 18, 1996, a group of Hispanic migrant workers filed a lawsuit against the Ohio State Highway Patrol under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, alleging that the Highway Patrol conducted unconstitutional automobile stops, detentions and searches solely on the basis of race and/or national origin; interrogated them about their immigration status and confiscated immigration papers without justification. Plaintiffs asserted violations of the First Amendment, Fourth Amendment, and the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. They sought declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as class certification.
On June 24, 1997, the District Court (Judge James G. Carr) denied plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction, as none of the named plaintiffs had ever been stopped by the Highway Patrol. After amending their complaint to add plaintiffs who had been so detained, plaintiffs renewed their request for a preliminary injunction. Judge Carr issued a preliminary injunction on December 8, 1997, prohibiting the questioning about immigration status, or seizure of immigration papers, without reasonable cause. He, however, declined relief on plaintiffs' claim of stops based on ethnicity. Farm Labor Organizing Committee v. Ohio State Highway Patrol, 991 F.Supp. 895 (N.D.Ohio 1997). On August 17, 1998, the District Court certified the case as a class action. Farm Labor Organizing Committee v. Ohio State Highway Patrol, 184 F.R.D. 583, (N.D. Ohio 1998).
The parties then filed cross-motions for summary judgment. By order dated September 8, 1999, the Court (Judge Carr) granted plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment on one claim (Fourth Amendment violation in retaining two plaintiffs' green cards for four days following traffic stop), but entered judgment for defendants on all other claims. The preliminary injunction was dissolved. Plaintiffs moved for reconsideration of their claims for injunctive relief under Title VI, class-wide claims for injunctive relief under the Fourth Amendment, and equal protection claims. The District Court granted in part and denied in part the motion for reconsideration, granting partial summary judgment to plaintiffs' on their equal protection claims, but denying relief under Title VI and finding that there as no standing for class wide injunctive relief. The Court also refused to extend qualified immunity to defendants on some claims. Farm Labor Organizing Committee v. Ohio State Highway Patrol, 95 F.Supp.2d 723 (N.D.Ohio Apr 20, 2000). Defendants then appealed. The Court of Appeals (Circuit Judge Moore) affirmed. Farm Labor Organizing Committee v. Ohio State Highway Patrol 308 F.3d 523 (6th Cir. 2002).
On remand, the parties settled the case. A formal Settlement Agreement was filed on May 5, 2003. Under the Agreement, the Highway Patrol agreed to pay two named plaintiffs $7,500 each and pay attorneys' fees of $85,000 to the Equal Justice Foundation. The Highway Patrol also agreed to continue to maintain and enforce its policies, procedures and training protocols regarding the issue of racial bias.
We have no further information on this case.
Summary Authors
Erica Woodruff (8/20/2007)
People
Carr, James G. (Ohio)
Cole, Ransey Guy Jr. (Ohio)
Finnegan, John Mark (Michigan)
Adler, Allen Paul (Ohio)
Dorris, Tomi L. (Ohio)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Docket
Last updated March 27, 2025, 8:28 a.m.
Case Details
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Sept. 18, 1996
Closing Date: 2003
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Hispanic migrant workers that claimed the OSHP violated their constitutional rights by interrogating them about their immigration status, and, in some cases, confiscating immigration documents, on the basis of their Hispanic appearance.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
State
Ohio State Highway Patrol
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Due Process: Substantive Due Process
Unreasonable search and seizure
Other Dockets:
Northern District of Ohio 3:96-cv-07580
Northern District of Ohio 3:96-cv-07850
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit 00-03653
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed
Relief Granted:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Content of Injunction:
Issues
Immigration/Border:
Undocumented immigrants - rights and duties
Case Summary of Farm Labor Org. Comm. v. Ohio State Highway Patrol, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/9682/ (last updated 8/20/2007).