Case: Carter v. Gallagher

4:70-cv-00399 | U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota

Filed Date: Sept. 28, 1970

Closed Date: Jan. 2, 2001

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In September 1970 a group of black applicants to the Minneapolis Fire Department filed suit against the Civil Service Commission and Minneapolis Fire Department in the Federal District Court for the District of Minnesota. The suit was brought under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1983 as well as the Fourteenth Amendment. Plaintiffs brought suit on behalf of all minority applicants and alleged that the Civil Service Commission employed a hiring procedure that exhibited a pattern or practice of discrimin…

In September 1970 a group of black applicants to the Minneapolis Fire Department filed suit against the Civil Service Commission and Minneapolis Fire Department in the Federal District Court for the District of Minnesota. The suit was brought under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1983 as well as the Fourteenth Amendment. Plaintiffs brought suit on behalf of all minority applicants and alleged that the Civil Service Commission employed a hiring procedure that exhibited a pattern or practice of discrimination and had a disparate impact on minorities. In 1970 the Minneapolis Fire Department contained 535 members, all of whom were white. Specifically plaintiffs alleged that the format of the test, the recruitment policies, and the additional requirements for employment resulted in unlawful discrimination.

On March 9, 1971 the district court (Judge Larson) entered a finding of fact for the plaintiffs and issued a decree that required, among other things, that the fire department adopt a quota of twenty minority candidates being hired in every hiring cycle. Defendants appealed to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. On September 9, 1971 the court (Judge Matthes, Judge Van Oosterhout, and Judge Eisele) upheld the decree except the quota of 20 minority hires, which it found unconstitutionally discriminated against white applicants. On rehearing en banc on January 7, 1972 the court modified the decision. Rather than strike the quota the court modified it such that the fire department would be required to hire one minority candidate for every two white candidates until 20 minority candidates were hired in each hiring cycle. This order was to be in force until there was racial parity between the city and the fire department.

On April 6, 1972 the district court (Judge Larson) entered the modified decree. Its principle components were the revised hiring scheme, a requirement that the Civil Service Commission devise an affirmative action program for recruiting minority candidates, abandonment of hiring requirements that disproportionally affected minorities, and revision of the candidate examination under EEOC guidelines so that it would be non-discriminatory.

The court retained jurisdiction and monitored compliance with the terms regarding hiring practices until November 15, 2000. On that date the court (Judge Magnuson) entered an order terminating jurisdiction over all aspects of the decree effective January 2, 2001. The court also entered an agreement between the parties on a number of provisions to ensure that hiring practices did not have a disparate impact on minority candidates.

Summary Authors

Michael Perry (7/24/2010)

People


Judge(s)

Bright, Myron H. (North Dakota)

Gibson, John R. (Missouri)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Becker, Bernard (Minnesota)

Attorney for Defendant

Edelman, Hyman (Minnesota)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Eisele, Garnett Thomas (Arkansas)

Judge(s)

Bright, Myron H. (North Dakota)

Gibson, John R. (Missouri)

Heaney, Gerald William (Minnesota)

Larson, Earl Richard (Minnesota)

Lay, Donald Pomery (Minnesota)

Magnuson, Paul Arthur (Minnesota)

Matthes, Marion Charles (Missouri)

Mehaffy, Pat (Arkansas)

Ross, Donald Roe (Nebraska)

Stephenson, Roy Laverne (Iowa)

Van Oosterhout, Martin Donald (Iowa)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

4:70-cv-00399

Docket

April 23, 2003

April 23, 2003

Docket

4:70-cv-00399

Opinion (Finding that Defendant has engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination and imposing a decree)

March 9, 1971

March 9, 1971

Order/Opinion

1971 WL 1971

71-01181

Brief of Appellee Minneapolis Commission of Human Relations

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

June 7, 1971

June 7, 1971

Pleading / Motion / Brief

4:70-cv-00399

Opinion (Finding a five year residency requirement to claim a veterens preference unconstitutional)

Aug. 6, 1971

Aug. 6, 1971

Order/Opinion

337 F.Supp. 337

71-01181

Opinion (Revising the decree of the district court)

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

Sept. 9, 1971

Sept. 9, 1971

Order/Opinion

452 F.2d 452

4:70-cv-00399

Opinion (Instituting new decree)

April 6, 1972

April 6, 1972

Order/Opinion

1972 U.S.Dist.LEXIS 1972

202

4:70-cv-00399

STIPULATION AND ORDER TERMINATING JURISDICTION

Nov. 15, 2000

Nov. 15, 2000

Order/Opinion

71-01181

Brief for Plaintiffs-Appellees

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

None

None

Pleading / Motion / Brief

Docket

Last updated March 24, 2024, 3:10 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
143

MOTION by pltfs for temporary restraining order ( to Senior Judge Robert G. Renner ) ret. 5/11/98. (2pgs) (dmn) (Entered: 05/13/1998)

May 11, 1998

May 11, 1998

144

MEMORANDUM by pltfs in support of motion for temporary restraining order [143−1]. (9pgs) (dmn) (Entered: 05/13/1998)

May 11, 1998

May 11, 1998

145

AFFIDAVIT of Roderick J. MacPherson III re: motion for temporary restraining order [143−1]. (14pgs) (dmn) (Entered: 05/13/1998)

May 11, 1998

May 11, 1998

150

DEPOSITION of Dr. James Neal Butcher taken on the following date(s): 4/24/97. (Cindy M. Trattles, R) (Separate) (CJF) (Entered: 05/14/1998)

May 11, 1998

May 11, 1998

151

DEPOSITION of Dr. Lawrence W. Sherman taken on the following date(s): 4/22/97. (Shelley T. MacGillivray, R) (Separate) (CJF) (Entered: 05/14/1998)

May 11, 1998

May 11, 1998

146

AFFIDAVIT of Roderick J. MacPherson III re: motion for temporary restraining order [143−1]. (1pg) (dmn) (Entered: 05/13/1998)

May 12, 1998

May 12, 1998

147

TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER ( Senior Judge Robert G. Renner 5/12/98) prohibiting defts from removing Terminated Cadets from current status of being on paid administrative leave, from using results of psycological examinations and disclosing results of same. (cc: all counsel) (2pgs) (dmn) (Entered: 05/13/1998)

May 12, 1998

May 12, 1998

148

MEMORANDUM by defts in opposition to motion for temporary restraining order [143−1]. (10pgs) (dmn) (Entered: 05/13/1998)

May 12, 1998

May 12, 1998

149

AFFIDAVIT of Burt T. Osborne re: motion for temporary restraining order [143−1]. (59pgs) (dmn) (Entered: 05/13/1998)

May 12, 1998

May 12, 1998

152

MEMORANDUM by defendant in opposition to motion for a preliminary injunction [143−1] (19pgs) ( (Entered: 05/19/1998)

May 18, 1998

May 18, 1998

153

AFFIDAVIT of Burt T. Osborne (6pgs + exh.) ( (Entered: 05/19/1998)

May 18, 1998

May 18, 1998

154

MEMORANDUM by pltfs class in support of motion to invalidate psychological examination results. (14 pgs) (CJF) (Entered: 05/19/1998)

May 19, 1998

May 19, 1998

155

SECOND AFFIDAVIT of Roderick J. MacPherson III. (17pgs) (CJF) (Entered: 05/19/1998)

May 19, 1998

May 19, 1998

156

AFFIDAVIT of David Friedland, Ph.D. (4pgs) (CJF) (Entered: 05/19/1998)

May 19, 1998

May 19, 1998

157

AFFIDAVIT of John Gonsiorek, Ph.D. (2pgs) (CJF) (Entered: 05/19/1998)

May 19, 1998

May 19, 1998

158

EXHIBITS B and C to Second Affidavit of Roderick J. MacPherson, III (155−1). (Separate and under Seal) (CJF) (Entered: 05/19/1998)

May 19, 1998

May 19, 1998

159

AFFIDAVIT of David Friedland, Ph.D. (14pgs) (CJF) (Entered: 05/21/1998)

May 20, 1998

May 20, 1998

160

STIPULATION AND ORDER ( Senior Judge Robert G. Renner/5/26/98 ) The parties stipulate that all psychological reports, or excerpts therefrom may be submitted to the court under seal. IT IS SO ORDERED. (cc: all counsel) (2pgs) (

May 26, 1998

May 26, 1998

162

EXHIBIT F to afdt of Burt T. Osborne (sealed/separate) ( (Entered: 05/27/1998)

May 26, 1998

May 26, 1998

163

ORDER ( Senior Judge Robert G. Renner / 7/30/98) Re: approving selection devices and modified recruitment and application time table. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: (fully set forth in body of Order) (cc: all counsel) (50pgs) ( (Entered: 08/03/1998)

July 31, 1998

July 31, 1998

164

MOTION by Pltf Class Member John Eland to enforce this Court's orders of 7/11/97 and 5/26/98 ( to Senior Judge Robert G. Renner ) (1 pg) (SJH) (Entered: 08/17/1998)

Aug. 13, 1998

Aug. 13, 1998

165

MEMORANDUM by Pltf Class Member John Eland in support of motion to enforce this Court's orders of 7/11/97 and 5/26/98 [164−1] (7 pgs) (SJH) (Entered: 08/17/1998)

Aug. 13, 1998

Aug. 13, 1998

166

AFFIDAVIT of Karen A. Kugler re attached exhibits regarding motion to enforce this Court's orders of 7/11/97 and 5/26/98 [164−1] (2+ pgs) (SJH) (Entered: 08/17/1998)

Aug. 13, 1998

Aug. 13, 1998

167

MEMORANDUM by defendants in opposition to motion to enforce this Court's orders of 7/11/97 and 5/26/98 [164−1] (7 pgs) (DFL) (Entered: 08/19/1998)

Aug. 18, 1998

Aug. 18, 1998

168

AFFIDAVIT of Burt T. Osborne regarding memorandum [167−1] (30 pgs) (DFL) (Entered: 08/19/1998)

Aug. 18, 1998

Aug. 18, 1998

169

AFFIDAVIT of Ulysses S. Seal regarding memorandum [167−1] (4 pgs) (DFL) (Entered: 08/19/1998)

Aug. 18, 1998

Aug. 18, 1998

170

LETTER to Court from defendants re agreement to waive oral arguments re Eland's motion to enforce court oroders (1 pg) (SJH) (Entered: 08/20/1998)

Aug. 19, 1998

Aug. 19, 1998

171

AFFIDAVIT of Roderick J. Macpherson III (5pgs) ( (Entered: 08/24/1998)

Aug. 20, 1998

Aug. 20, 1998

172

STIPULATION AND ORDER ( Senior Judge Robert G. Renner ) concerning second psychological examination for terminated cadets. (38pg(s)(cc: all counsel) (CJF) (Entered: 09/04/1998)

Sept. 2, 1998

Sept. 2, 1998

173

AMENDED NOTICE by pltfs of setting hearing for motion to enforce this Court's orders of 7/11/97 and 5/26/98 ( to Senior Judge Robert G. Renner ) [164−1] at 10:00 A.M. on 9/14/98 (2pg(s) (CJF) (Entered: 09/08/1998)

Sept. 4, 1998

Sept. 4, 1998

174

ORDER ( Senior Judge Robert G. Renner / 9/9/98) that pltf's motion for enforcement of terms of Court Orders is denied. [164−1] (5pg(s) (cc: all counsel) (CJF) (Entered: 09/11/1998)

Sept. 9, 1998

Sept. 9, 1998

175

TRANSCRIPT OF COURT TRIAL held 4/22/97 before Senior Judge Robert G. Renner ( Robert W. Riley, R). (Volume I) (Separate). (CJF) (Entered: 12/09/1998)

Dec. 7, 1998

Dec. 7, 1998

176

TRANSCRIPT OF COURT TRIAL held 4/23/98 before Senior Judge Robert G. Renner ( Robert W. Riley, R). (Volume II) (Separate) (CJF) (Entered: 12/09/1998)

Dec. 7, 1998

Dec. 7, 1998

178

TRANSCRIPT OF COURT TRIAL held 4/25/97 by Senior Judge Robert G. Renner ( Robert W. Riley, R). (Volume IV) (SEPERATE) (CJF) Modified on 12/10/1998 (Entered: 12/10/1998)

Dec. 7, 1998

Dec. 7, 1998

179

ORDER OF CASE REASSIGNMENT ( Senior Judge Robert G. Renner / 8/26/99) Case reassigned to Chief Judge Paul A. Magnuson (1 pg) (cc: all counsel) (MKC) (Entered: 09/01/1999)

Aug. 26, 1999

Aug. 26, 1999

180

MOTION by plaintiffs for temporary restraining order. ( to Chief Judge Paul A. Magnuson ) 2 pg(s) (VEM) (Entered: 12/01/1999)

Dec. 1, 1999

Dec. 1, 1999

181

AFFIDAVIT of Roderick J. Macpherson III regarding motion for temporary restraining order. [180−1] 23 pg(s) (VEM) (Entered: 12/01/1999)

Dec. 1, 1999

Dec. 1, 1999

182

MINUTES:( Chief Judge Paul A. Magnuson / Jeanne Anderson) Plaintiff's motionf or TRO continued until [180−1] at 9:30 on 1/7/99. (1 pg) (MKC) (Entered: 12/06/1999)

Dec. 1, 1999

Dec. 1, 1999

183

MOTION by plaintiff to compel discovery ( to Magistrate Judge Jonathan G. Lebedoff ) ret 12/21/99 at 9:30 (19 pg(s) (MKC) (Entered: 12/10/1999)

Dec. 8, 1999

Dec. 8, 1999

184

AFFIDAVIT of Roderick J. MacPherson regarding motion to compel discovery. [183−1] (25 pgs) (MKC) (Entered: 12/10/1999)

Dec. 8, 1999

Dec. 8, 1999

185

MEMORANDUM by plaintiff in support of motion to compel discovery . [183−1] (11 pgs) (MKC) (Entered: 12/10/1999)

Dec. 8, 1999

Dec. 8, 1999

186

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLAIANCE WITHLOCAL RULE 37.1 by Roderick J. Macpherson, III regarding motion to compel discovery . [183−1] (5 pgs) (MKC) (Entered: 12/10/1999)

Dec. 8, 1999

Dec. 8, 1999

187

MOTION by plaintiff for contempt. ( to Chief Judge Paul A. Magnuson ) 3 pg(s) (VEM) (Entered: 12/15/1999)

Dec. 15, 1999

Dec. 15, 1999

188

MEMORANDUM by defendants in opposition to motion to compel discovery. [183−1] (8 pgs) (MKC) (Entered: 12/17/1999)

Dec. 16, 1999

Dec. 16, 1999

189

AFFIDAVIT of Burt T. Osborne. (separate) (MKC) (Entered: 12/17/1999)

Dec. 16, 1999

Dec. 16, 1999

190

MINUTES:( Magistrate Judge Jonathan G. Lebedoff / ) taking under advisement on the motion to compel discovery. [183−1] (1 pg) (MKC) (Entered: 12/23/1999)

Dec. 21, 1999

Dec. 21, 1999

191

ORDER ( Magistrate Judge Jonathan G. Lebedoff / 12/29/99) that pltfs' motion to compel discovery is granted as to requests for production, the deposition of Mpls Fire Chief Rocco Forte, the continued deposition of Valerie Sheehan, &deposition of James M. Rodger, Jr., but denied as to deposition of James M. Rodger, Sr. Defts must produce the documents repsonsive to pltfs' requests for production by 1/31/00. [183−1]. (7pg(s) (cc: all counsel) (dmn) (Entered: 12/29/1999)

Dec. 29, 1999

Dec. 29, 1999

192

STIPULATION AND ORDER ( Chief Judge Paul A. Magnuson ) [187−1] re: defendants' use of the EI/CSI Examination. (5 pgs)(cc: all counsel) (MKC) (Entered: 01/18/2000)

Jan. 13, 2000

Jan. 13, 2000

193

STIPULATION AND ORDER ( Magistrate Judge Jonathan G. Lebedoff ) re: confidentiality of private personnel data disclosed during depositions of Valerie Sheehan, Rocco Forte, James M. Rodger, Jr. and James M. Rodger, Sr. (5pg(s)(cc: all counsel) (CJF) (Entered: 01/20/2000)

Jan. 19, 2000

Jan. 19, 2000

194

MINUTES:( Magistrate Judge Jonathan G. Lebedoff / ) Conference − Discussed issues; tried to assist parties in resolving ongoing issues. (1 pg) (MKC) (Entered: 02/15/2000)

Feb. 11, 2000

Feb. 11, 2000

195

STIPULATION AND ORDER (NATIVE AMERICAN VERIFICATION MATTER) ( Chief Judge Paul A. Magnuson ) ( 6 pgs)(cc: all counsel) (MKC) (Entered: 03/01/2000)

Feb. 28, 2000

Feb. 28, 2000

197

MINUTES:( Magistrate Judge Jonathan G. Lebedoff / ) Settlement conference held on 6/8/00 . (1 pg) (MKC) (Entered: 06/12/2000)

June 8, 2000

June 8, 2000

198

STIPULATION AND ORDER (TEST SCHEDULE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF LARSON RECOMMENDATIONS ( Chief Judge Paul A. Magnuson ) ( 12 pgs)(cc: all counsel) (MKC) (Entered: 06/16/2000)

June 15, 2000

June 15, 2000

199

TRANSCRIPT OF status/settlement conference held 6/2/00 by Chief Judge Paul A. Magnuson ( Jeanne M. Anderson, Crt Reporter) (SEPARATE) (MKC) (Entered: 06/30/2000)

June 29, 2000

June 29, 2000

200

MOTION by plaintiff for contempt( to Chief Judge Paul A. Magnuson ) ret 11/15/00 (4 pgs) (MKC) (Entered: 10/20/2000)

Oct. 18, 2000

Oct. 18, 2000

201

MINUTES:( Chief Judge Paul A. Magnuson / J. Anderson) Hearing re: Settlement agreement − Counsel Burt Osborne spode, counsel Rick MacPherson spode and citizen Mr. Edwards spoke. Judge Magnuson gave closing comments. Stipulation submitted to the court. 1pg (VEM) (Entered: 11/15/2000)

Nov. 15, 2000

Nov. 15, 2000

202

STIPULATION AND ORDER TERMINATION JURISDICTION ( Chief Judge Paul A. Magnuson ) The Court adopts the parties' agreement as its Order in this case, and on the date when the Defendants hire Cadet Class, I, the Court' jurisdiction over this case is hereby terminated. (9 pgs)(cc: all counsel) (MKC) (Entered: 11/17/2000)

Nov. 15, 2000

Nov. 15, 2000

203

ORDER ( Chief Judge Paul A. Magnuson ) Intervenor−Defendant shall sign the stipulation between the parties filed on 11/15/00 [202−1] or provide the court with its reasons for declining to sign the stipulation on or before 12/1/00. If Intervenor−Defendant fails to respond as ordered, it will be dismissed from this action with prejudice.2 pg(s) (cc: all counsel) (VEM) (Entered: 11/20/2000)

Nov. 16, 2000

Nov. 16, 2000

204

ORDER ( Chief Judge Paul A. Magnuson / 12/7/00)that: Intervenor−defendant Minneapolis Commission of Human Relations is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. The clerk shall remove Intervenor−Defendant from the caption in this matter. terminating party Mpls Comm on Human (2 pgs) (cc: all counsel) (MKC) (Entered: 12/08/2000)

Dec. 7, 2000

Dec. 7, 2000

205

ORDER ( Chief Judge Paul A. Magnuson / 12/12/00) The Court's order of 12/7/00 (Doc 204) is VACATED. (2 pgs) (cc: all counsel) (Mpls Comm of Human Relations is untermed) (MKC) (Entered: 12/14/2000)

Dec. 12, 2000

Dec. 12, 2000

206

MOTION by plaintiff for contempt. ( to Magistrate Judge Jonathan G. Lebedoff ) 3 pg(s) (VEM) (Entered: 08/27/2001)

Aug. 27, 2001

Aug. 27, 2001

207

NOTICE OF INTENT TO DESTROY DOCUMENTS UNDER SEAL. 1 pg (LLJ) (Entered: 04/25/2003)

April 24, 2003

April 24, 2003

Case Details

State / Territory: Minnesota

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

Civil Rights Division Archival Collection

Private Employment Class Actions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 28, 1970

Closing Date: Jan. 2, 2001

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

A group of black applicants to the Minneapolis Fire Department

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

NDRN/Protection & Advocacy Organizations

Legal Services/Legal Aid

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

City of Minneapolis (Minneapolis, Hennepin), City

City of Minneapolis (Minneapolis, Hennepin), City

Defendant Type(s):

Fire

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

42 U.S.C. § 1981

Constitutional Clause(s):

Equal Protection

Supremacy Clause

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Order Duration: 1971 - 2001

Content of Injunction:

Utilize objective hiring/promotion criteria

Other requirements regarding hiring, promotion, retention

Issues

General:

Pattern or Practice

Discrimination-area:

Disparate Impact

Hiring

Discrimination-basis:

National origin discrimination

Race discrimination

Race:

American Indian/Alaskan Native

Black

National Origin/Ethnicity:

Hispanic