Case: United States of America v. Sheriff of McLennan County and McLennan County

6:98-cv-00316 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas

Filed Date: Sept. 30, 1998

Closed Date: 2002

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On September 30, 1998, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the McLennan County Sheriff's Department under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et seq. ("Title VII") in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. The U.S. sought injunctive relief, alleging that the defendant had violated Title VII, by discriminating against female employees.The U.S. alleged that the Sheriff's Department did not allow female employees opportunity to obtain training and experience as Field Deputie…

On September 30, 1998, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the McLennan County Sheriff's Department under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et seq. ("Title VII") in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. The U.S. sought injunctive relief, alleging that the defendant had violated Title VII, by discriminating against female employees.

The U.S. alleged that the Sheriff's Department did not allow female employees opportunity to obtain training and experience as Field Deputies by serving as substitute night Field Deputies. It was demonstrated that during the years 1991 to 1997, 14 male employees were promoted from within to the Field Deputy position, all of which had obtained training as substitute night Field Deputies.

On October 2, 1998, the District Court (Judge Walter S. Smith) entered a Consent Decree approved by both parties. The McLennan County Sheriff's Department agreed to institute practices safeguarding against future discrimination, including holding a training sessions for female employees interested in the night position, as well as recording and reporting the number of female employees who apply and complete training as Field Deputies as requested by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Subsequent to the Consent Decree, a female employee who had experienced discrimination prior to the court decision made a number of attempts to become an intervenor plaintiff in the trial. These motions were denied.

We have no further information on this case.

Summary Authors

Jane Wu (11/5/2007)

People


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Fenton, William B. (District of Columbia)

Leggott, Charles E. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Bristow, Herbert S (Texas)

Dixon, Michael W (Texas)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Oler, Gayle E (Texas)

Judge(s)

Smith, Walter Scott Jr. (Texas)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

6:98-cv-00316

Docket (PACER)

United States v. Sheriff/McLennan Co.

Jan. 17, 2002

Jan. 17, 2002

Docket
1

6:98-cv-00316

Complaint

United States of America v. The Sheriff of McLennan County and McLennan County

Sept. 30, 1998

Sept. 30, 1998

Complaint
3

6:98-cv-00316

Consent Decree

United States of America v. The Sheriff of McLennan County and McLennan County

Oct. 2, 1998

Oct. 2, 1998

Settlement Agreement

Docket

Last updated March 21, 2024, 3:10 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link

Case assigned to Honorable Walter S. Smith (fe) (Entered: 10/01/1998)

Sept. 30, 1998

Sept. 30, 1998

1

Complaint filed. Filing Fee: $ waived (Pages: 4) (fe) (Entered: 10/01/1998)

Sept. 30, 1998

Sept. 30, 1998

2

Motion by USA for Charles E. Leggott to appear pro hac vice. vice (fe) (Entered: 10/01/1998)

Sept. 30, 1998

Sept. 30, 1998

3

Consent Decree (Pages: 12) (as) (Entered: 10/02/1998)

Oct. 2, 1998

Oct. 2, 1998

Case closed (as) (Entered: 10/02/1998)

Oct. 2, 1998

Oct. 2, 1998

4

Order granting Charles E. Leggott's motion to appear pro hac vice (as) (Entered: 10/02/1998)

Oct. 2, 1998

Oct. 2, 1998

5

Motion by Wanda J. Price to intervene (as) (Entered: 10/09/1998)

Oct. 8, 1998

Oct. 8, 1998

6

Order denying as moot Wanda J. Price's motion to intervene [5-1] (as) (Entered: 10/14/1998)

Oct. 14, 1998

Oct. 14, 1998

7

Motion by Wanda J. Price for reconsideration of the motion to intervene (as) (Entered: 10/23/1998)

Oct. 23, 1998

Oct. 23, 1998

8

Response by Sheriff/McLennan Co., McLennan County in opposition to Wanda J. Price's motion for reconsideration of the motion to intervene [7-1] (as) (Entered: 11/02/1998)

Nov. 2, 1998

Nov. 2, 1998

9

Order denying Wanda J. Price's motion for reconsideration of the motion to intervene [7-1] (as) (Entered: 11/20/1998)

Nov. 20, 1998

Nov. 20, 1998

10

Motion by McLennan County, Sheriff/McLennan Co. for relief from and to dismiss consent decree (as) (Entered: 01/11/2002)

Jan. 11, 2002

Jan. 11, 2002

11

Order granting Defendant's motion for relief from and to dismiss consent decree [10-1]. Ordered that the consent decree entered by this Court on October 2, 1998 is hereby DISMISSED, and the defendants are relieved from all obligations and requirements thereunder. (as) (Entered: 01/17/2002)

Jan. 17, 2002

Jan. 17, 2002

Case Details

State / Territory: Texas

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

IWPR/Wage Project Consent Decree Study

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 30, 1998

Closing Date: 2002

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of female employees

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

McLennan County (McLennan), County

Defendant Type(s):

Law-enforcement

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

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 1998 - 2002

Issues

General:

Pattern or Practice

Discrimination-area:

Disparate Treatment

Promotion

Training

Discrimination-basis:

Sex discrimination

Affected Sex or Gender:

Female