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)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

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 132

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. 626

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 315

4:70-cv-00399

Opinion (Instituting new decree)

April 6, 1972

April 6, 1972

Order/Opinion

1972 U.S.Dist.LEXIS 14309

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

Pleading / Motion / Brief

Docket

Last updated March 24, 2025, 8:19 a.m.

ECF Number Date Description Link
143 May 11, 1998

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

PACER
144 May 11, 1998

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

PACER
145 May 11, 1998

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

PACER
150 May 11, 1998

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)

PACER
151 May 11, 1998

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)

PACER
146 May 12, 1998

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

PACER
147 May 12, 1998

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)

PACER
148 May 12, 1998

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

PACER
149 May 12, 1998

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

PACER
152 May 18, 1998

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

PACER
153 May 18, 1998

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

PACER
154 May 19, 1998

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

PACER
155 May 19, 1998

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

PACER
156 May 19, 1998

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

PACER
157 May 19, 1998

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

PACER
158 May 19, 1998

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

PACER
159 May 20, 1998

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

PACER
160 May 26, 1998

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) (

PACER
162 May 26, 1998

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

PACER
163 July 31, 1998

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)

PACER
164 Aug. 13, 1998

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)

PACER
165 Aug. 13, 1998

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)

PACER
166 Aug. 13, 1998

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)

PACER
167 Aug. 18, 1998

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)

PACER
168 Aug. 18, 1998

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

PACER
169 Aug. 18, 1998

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

PACER
170 Aug. 19, 1998

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)

PACER
171 Aug. 20, 1998

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

PACER
172 Sept. 2, 1998

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)

PACER
173 Sept. 4, 1998

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)

PACER
174 Sept. 9, 1998

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)

PACER
175 Dec. 7, 1998

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)

PACER
176 Dec. 7, 1998

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)

PACER
178 Dec. 7, 1998

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)

PACER
179 Aug. 26, 1999

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)

PACER
180 Dec. 1, 1999

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

PACER
181 Dec. 1, 1999

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

PACER
182 Dec. 1, 1999

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)

PACER
183 Dec. 8, 1999

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)

PACER
184 Dec. 8, 1999

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

PACER
185 Dec. 8, 1999

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

PACER
186 Dec. 8, 1999

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)

PACER
187 Dec. 15, 1999

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

PACER
188 Dec. 16, 1999

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

PACER
189 Dec. 16, 1999

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

PACER
190 Dec. 21, 1999

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

PACER
191 Dec. 29, 1999

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)

PACER
192 Jan. 13, 2000

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)

PACER
193 Jan. 19, 2000

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)

PACER
194 Feb. 11, 2000

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

PACER
195 Feb. 28, 2000

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

PACER
197 June 8, 2000

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

PACER
198 June 15, 2000

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)

PACER
199 June 29, 2000

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)

PACER
200 Oct. 18, 2000

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

PACER
201 Nov. 15, 2000

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)

PACER
202 Nov. 15, 2000

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)

PACER
203 Nov. 16, 2000

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)

PACER
204 Dec. 7, 2000

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)

PACER
205 Dec. 12, 2000

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)

PACER
206 Aug. 27, 2001

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

PACER
207 April 24, 2003

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

PACER

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:

Legal Services/Legal Aid

NDRN/Protection & Advocacy Organizations

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

City

City of Minneapolis

City of Minneapolis

Defendant Type(s):

Fire

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1981

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Equal Protection

Supremacy Clause

Other Dockets:

District of Minnesota 4:70-cv-00399

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit 71-01181

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed

Relief Granted:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Content of Injunction:

Other requirements regarding hiring, promotion, retention

Utilize objective hiring/promotion criteria

Order Duration: 1971 - 2001

Issues

General/Misc.:

Pattern or Practice

Discrimination Area:

Disparate Impact

Hiring

Discrimination Basis:

National origin discrimination

Race discrimination

Affected National Origin/Ethnicity(s):

Hispanic

Affected Race(s):

American Indian/Alaskan Native

Black

Recommended Citation