Case: United States v. North Little Rock School District

4:99-cv-00113 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas

Filed Date: Feb. 18, 1999

Closed Date: 2001

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On February 18, 1999, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the North Little Rock School District under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et seq. ("Title VII") in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. The Department of Justice asked the court for injunctive and monetary relief, alleging that the defendant had violated Title VII, by discriminating and retaliating against a former employee, on the basis of gender.The plaintiff alleges that the employee was subjected to …

On February 18, 1999, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the North Little Rock School District under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et seq. ("Title VII") in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. The Department of Justice asked the court for injunctive and monetary relief, alleging that the defendant had violated Title VII, by discriminating and retaliating against a former employee, on the basis of gender.

The plaintiff alleges that the employee was subjected to a sexually hostile work environment and was retaliated against after her complaint was issued. The employee's workload was increased and supervised more closely, and she was eventually transferred to a less desirable position. The employee issued an intervenor complaint on May 5, 1999, so as to seek monetary reparations for this disparate and retaliatory treatment.

On February 2, 2001, the District Court (Judge Stephen M. Reasoner) entered a Consent Decree, agreed upon by both parties. The defendant School District was to issue and distribute a Sexual Harassment Policy with a Sexual Harrassment Complaint Procedure and Sexual Harassment Training program. An EEO Officer would also have to be appointed at the school to report to the Superintendent and Board of Education any incidents of sexual harassment or retaliation. The intervenor plaintiff was written a letter of apology and additionally awarded a monetary payment of $70,000.

We have no further information on this case.

Summary Authors

Jane Wu (11/4/2007)

People


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Lee, Bill Lann (District of Columbia)

Libman, Robert S (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Blume, W. Paul (Arkansas)

Fenton, William B. (District of Columbia)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Hamilton, Jim P (Arkansas)

Judge(s)

Reasoner, Stephen M. (Arkansas)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

4:99-cv-00113

Docket (PACER)

April 18, 2001

April 18, 2001

Docket
1

4:99-cv-00113

Complaint

United States of America v. North Little Rock School District

Feb. 18, 1999

Feb. 18, 1999

Complaint
61

4:99-cv-00113

Consent Decree

United States of America v. North Little Rock School District

April 2, 2001

April 2, 2001

Order/Opinion

Docket

Last updated March 24, 2024, 3:08 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT with jury demand; summons issued and returned to counsel (jap) (Entered: 02/18/1999)

Feb. 18, 1999

Feb. 18, 1999

2

MEMO to file regarding service of complaint (jap) (Entered: 02/18/1999)

Feb. 18, 1999

Feb. 18, 1999

3

RETURN OF SERVICE executed upon defendant NLR School District on 2/23/99 (bmt) (Entered: 03/09/1999)

March 8, 1999

March 8, 1999

4

ANSWER by defendant (bmt) (Entered: 03/09/1999)

March 9, 1999

March 9, 1999

5

MOTION by movant Margaret Ness to intervene as a pltf (bmt) Modified on 04/22/1999 (Entered: 04/16/1999)

April 15, 1999

April 15, 1999

6

RESPONSE by defendant to motion to intervene as a pltf [5-1] (bmt) (Entered: 04/23/1999)

April 23, 1999

April 23, 1999

7

BRIEF by defendant in support of response to motion to intervene [6-1] (bmt) (Entered: 04/23/1999)

April 23, 1999

April 23, 1999

8

AMENDED MOTION by movant Margaret Ness to intervene as a pltf (bmt) (Entered: 05/06/1999)

May 5, 1999

May 5, 1999

9

BRIEF by movant Margaret Ness in support of motion to intervene as a pltf [8-1] (bmt) (Entered: 05/06/1999)

May 5, 1999

May 5, 1999

11

INTERVENOR'S complaint by intervenor plaintiff (bmt) (Entered: 05/21/1999)

May 21, 1999

May 21, 1999

12

ANSWER by defendant to complt of intervenor (bmt) (Entered: 10/05/1999)

Oct. 5, 1999

Oct. 5, 1999

13

MOTION by plaintiff USA for issuance of scheduling order (former empl) (Entered: 10/19/1999)

Oct. 18, 1999

Oct. 18, 1999

14

MEMORANDUM by plaintiff USA in support of motion for issuance of scheduling order [13-1] (former empl) (Entered: 10/19/1999)

Oct. 18, 1999

Oct. 18, 1999

15

SCHEDULING ORDER (DOC); jury trial set for 9:30 9/18/00 in Little Rock; discovery due 7/24/00; pretrial info sheet due 8/21/00 (cc: all counsel) (bmt) (Entered: 03/24/2000)

March 23, 2000

March 23, 2000

16

ORDER by Judge Stephen M. Reasoner finding the motion for issuance of scheduling order moot [13-1] (cc: all counsel) (bmt) (Entered: 04/20/2000)

April 19, 2000

April 19, 2000

17

MOTION by defendant to extend discovery deadline lej) (Entered: 07/25/2000)

July 25, 2000

July 25, 2000

18

BRIEF by defendant in support of motion to extend discovery deadline [17-1] lej) (Entered: 07/25/2000)

July 25, 2000

July 25, 2000

19

OPPOSITION by plaintiff to motion to extend discovery deadline [17- 1] (former empl) (Entered: 08/07/2000)

Aug. 4, 2000

Aug. 4, 2000

20

RESPONSE by intervenor plaintiff to motion to extend discovery deadline [17-1] (bmt) (Entered: 08/08/2000)

Aug. 7, 2000

Aug. 7, 2000

21

BRIEF by intervenor plaintiff in support of response to motion to extend discovery deadline [20-1] (bmt) (Entered: 08/08/2000)

Aug. 7, 2000

Aug. 7, 2000

22

MOTION by plaintiff to compel deft to resp to certain written discovery requests (bmt) (Entered: 08/14/2000)

Aug. 11, 2000

Aug. 11, 2000

23

MEMORANDUM by plaintiff in support of motion to compel deft to resp to certain written discovery requests [22-1] (bmt) (Entered: 08/14/2000)

Aug. 11, 2000

Aug. 11, 2000

24

ORDER by Judge Stephen M. Reasoner granting motion to extend discovery deadline until 8/31/00 [17-1] (cc: all counsel) (bmt) (Entered: 08/14/2000)

Aug. 11, 2000

Aug. 11, 2000

25

PRETRIAL INFORMATION SHEET by defendant; estimated length of trial 4 to 5 days (bmt) (Entered: 08/22/2000)

Aug. 18, 2000

Aug. 18, 2000

26

JOINT PRETRIAL INFORMATION SHEET by plaintiff and intervenor plaintiff; estimated length of trial 2 to 3 days (bmt) (Entered: 08/22/2000)

Aug. 21, 2000

Aug. 21, 2000

27

JOINT MOTION by parties for protective order (bmt) (Entered: 08/30/2000)

Aug. 29, 2000

Aug. 29, 2000

28

MEMORANDUM by parties in support of motion for protective order [27-1] (bmt) (Entered: 08/30/2000)

Aug. 29, 2000

Aug. 29, 2000

29

PROTECTIVE ORDER by Judge Stephen M. Reasoner: granting motion for protective order regarding medical records of pltf intervenor Margaret Ness [27-1] (cc: all counsel) (bmt) (Entered: 08/31/2000)

Aug. 31, 2000

Aug. 31, 2000

30

RESPONSE by defendant to motion to compel deft to resp to certain written discovery requests [22-1] (bmt) (Entered: 09/01/2000)

Sept. 1, 2000

Sept. 1, 2000

31

MOTION by plaintiff in limine to exclude the testimony of Dolly Smith (bmt) (Entered: 09/08/2000)

Sept. 8, 2000

Sept. 8, 2000

32

MEMORANDUM by plaintiff in support of motion in limine to exclude the testimony of Dolly Smith [31-1] (bmt) (Entered: 09/08/2000)

Sept. 8, 2000

Sept. 8, 2000

33

ORDER by Judge Stephen M. Reasoner finding the motion to compel deft to resp to certain written discovery requests moot [22-1] (cc: all counsel) (bmt) (Entered: 09/08/2000)

Sept. 8, 2000

Sept. 8, 2000

34

RESCHEDULING ORDER (DOC); jury trial set for 9:30 4/2/01 in Little Rock; updated pretrial info sheet due 3/5/01 (cc: all counsel) (bmt) (Entered: 09/13/2000)

Sept. 12, 2000

Sept. 12, 2000

35

RESPONSE by defendant to motion in limine to exclude the testimony of Dolly Smith [31-1] (bmt) (Entered: 09/14/2000)

Sept. 13, 2000

Sept. 13, 2000

36

BRIEF by defendant in support of response to motion in limine [35-1] (bmt) (Entered: 09/14/2000)

Sept. 13, 2000

Sept. 13, 2000

37

ORDER by Judge Stephen M. Reasoner denying motion in limine to exclude the testimony of Dolly Smith w/o prej [31-1] (cc: all counsel) (bmt) (Entered: 01/10/2001)

Jan. 9, 2001

Jan. 9, 2001

38

JOINT PRETRIAL DISCLOSURE SHEET by plaintiff and intervenor plaintiff; estimated length of trial 2 to 3 days (bmt) (Entered: 03/06/2001)

March 5, 2001

March 5, 2001

39

MOTION by defendant for summary judgment (bmt) (Entered: 03/21/2001)

March 20, 2001

March 20, 2001

41

STATEMENT OF FACTS (Local Rule 56.1) by defendant in support of motion for summary judgment [39-1] (bmt) (Entered: 03/21/2001)

March 20, 2001

March 20, 2001

42

MOTION by plaintiff to strike deft's motion for summary judgment and for expedited consideration (bmt) (Entered: 03/23/2001)

March 22, 2001

March 22, 2001

43

MEMORANDUM by plaintiff in support of motion to strike deft's motion for summary judgment [42-1] and for expedited consideration [42-2] (bmt) (Entered: 03/23/2001)

March 22, 2001

March 22, 2001

44

RESPONSE by defendant to motion to strike motion for summary judgment [42-1] (bmt) (Entered: 03/23/2001)

March 22, 2001

March 22, 2001

45

BRIEF by defendant in support of response to motion to strike motion for summary judgment [44-1] (bmt) (Entered: 03/23/2001)

March 22, 2001

March 22, 2001

46

ORDER by Judge Stephen M. Reasoner denying motion for summary judgment [39-1]; finding the motion to strike deft's motion for summary judgment [42-1] and for expedited consideration moot [42-2] (cc: all counsel) (bmt) (Entered: 03/23/2001)

March 22, 2001

March 22, 2001

47

MOTION by plaintiff in limine to exclude at trial the testimony of Dolly Smith (bmt) (Entered: 03/23/2001)

March 23, 2001

March 23, 2001

48

MEMORANDUM by plaintiff in support of motion in limine to exclude at trial the testimony of Dolly Smith [47-1] (bmt) (Entered: 03/23/2001)

March 23, 2001

March 23, 2001

49

MOTION by plaintiff in limine to exclude certain testimony regarding the intent or state of mind of James Pearson (bmt) (Entered: 03/23/2001)

March 23, 2001

March 23, 2001

50

MEMORANDUM by plaintiff in support of motion in limine to exclude certain testimony regarding the intent or state of mind of James Pearson [49-1] (bmt) (Entered: 03/23/2001)

March 23, 2001

March 23, 2001

51

MOTION by plaintiff in limine to exclude at trial the testimony of Fran Jackson (bmt) (Entered: 03/23/2001)

March 23, 2001

March 23, 2001

52

MEMORANDUM by plaintiff in support of motion in limine to exclude at trial the testimony of Fran Jackson [51-1] (bmt) (Entered: 03/23/2001)

March 23, 2001

March 23, 2001

53

PRETRIAL DISCLOSURE SHEET by defendant; estimated length of trial 4 to 5 days (bmt) (Entered: 03/26/2001)

March 23, 2001

March 23, 2001

54

RESPONSE by defendant to motion in limine to exclude at trial the testimony of Dolly Smith [47-1] (bmt) (Entered: 04/02/2001)

March 30, 2001

March 30, 2001

56

RESPONSE by defendant to motion in limine to exclude certain testimony regarding the intent or state of mind of James Pearson [49-1] (bmt) (Entered: 04/02/2001)

March 30, 2001

March 30, 2001

57

BRIEF by defendant in support of response to motion in limine to exclude testimony relating to James Pearson [56-1] (bmt) (Entered: 04/02/2001)

March 30, 2001

March 30, 2001

58

RESPONSE by defendant to motion in limine to exclude at trial the testimony of Fran Jackson [51-1] (bmt) (Entered: 04/02/2001)

March 30, 2001

March 30, 2001

59

BRIEF by defendant in support of response to motion in limine to exclude testimony of Fran Jackson [58-1] (bmt) (Entered: 04/02/2001)

March 30, 2001

March 30, 2001

60

ORDER by Judge Stephen M. Reasoner denying motion in limine to exclude at trial the testimony of Dolly Smith [47-1]; denying motion in limine to exclude at trial the testimony of Fran Jackson [51-1]; granting motion in to exclude certain testimony regarding the intent or state of mind of James Pearson [49-1] (cc: all counsel) (bmt) (Entered: 04/02/2001)

March 30, 2001

March 30, 2001

61

CONSENT DECREE: by Judge Stephen M. Reasoner deft shall issue and distribute to all current School District employees the sexual harassment policy statement attached as Appendix D no later than 7 days after the date of entry of this Decree; no later than 7 days from the date of entry of this Decree, the School District shall designate a management level official as the School District's Equal Employment Opportunity Officer who shall report directly to the Superintendent; no later than 30 days after the date of entry of this Decree and upon written approval of the training program by pltf, the School District shall provide training to the EEO Officer in the law of sexual harassment and retaliation and the conduct of investigations into these issues; the deft shall provide the pltf with written confirmation of this training no later than 7 days after it is provided; any school district employee with a complt of sexual harassment or retaliation may bring such a complt directly to the EEO Officer and need not present it to his or her immediate supervisor; deft shall provide pltf with a copy of any complt of sexual harassment or retaliation w/in 5 days of the receipt of such complt by the EEO Officer; deft shall modify the performance evaluation form w/in 30 days of the date of entry of this Decree and provide a copy to pltf w/in 10 days after modification; no later than the beginning of the 2001-2002 school year, and annually thereafter, the School District shall provide training to all employees of the district, supervisory and non-supervisory, regarding sexual harassment and retaliation no later than 7 days after the entry of this Decree, deft shall offer intervenor pltf a monetary payment of $70,000; no later than 7 days after the entry date of this Decree, deft shall notify intervenor pltf of the terms of this Consent Decree by mailing to her in care of her counsel, by certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy of this Consent Decree; deft shall pay the monetary payment to intervenor pltf w/in 10 days of its receipt of the executed Appendix C Release and Election forms; all documents required to be delivered under this Decree to the United States shall be sent to the following address: Robert Libman, Special Litigation Counsel, Employment Litigation Section, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice, P.O. Box 65968, Washington, DC 20035-5968; this Court shall retain jurisdiction of this action for 2 years from the date of entry of this Decree (cc: all counsel) (bmt) Modified on 04/03/2001 (Entered: 04/02/2001)

April 2, 2001

April 2, 2001

62

COURT REPORTER'S TRANSCRIPT of settlement hearing held before Judge Reasoner on 4/2/01 (1 volume) (bmt) (Entered: 04/18/2001)

April 18, 2001

April 18, 2001

Case Details

State / Territory: Arkansas

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

IWPR/Wage Project Consent Decree Study

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Feb. 18, 1999

Closing Date: 2001

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of a female employee

Plaintiff Type(s):

EEOC Plaintiff

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

City of Little Rock (Little Rock), School District

Defendant Type(s):

Elementary/Secondary School

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Litigation

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 2001 - 2003

Issues

General:

Retaliation

Discrimination-area:

Disparate Treatment

Harassment / Hostile Work Environment

Discrimination-basis:

Sex discrimination

Affected Sex or Gender:

Female