Case: Johnson v. Gadsden City Schools

4:03-cv-02159 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama

Filed Date: Aug. 5, 2003

Closed Date: 2004

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On August 5, 2003, parents, as next friends of their three minor, student daughters, filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama under the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq. against Gadsden City School District and its superintendent. Plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief, claiming t…

On August 5, 2003, parents, as next friends of their three minor, student daughters, filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama under the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq. against Gadsden City School District and its superintendent. Plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief, claiming that Gadsden City Schools had violated Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972, 20 U.S.C. § 1681 by denying plaintiffs' daughters' an equal opportunity to participate in interscholastic and other school-sponsored athletics and the equal treatment and benefits that must necessarily accompany them.

Specifically, plaintiffs claimed that Gadsden City Schools discriminated against plaintiffs' daughters in the accommodation of student interests and abilities; the funding of athletics; access to equipment and supplies; the scheduling of games and practice times; travel; the assignment and compensation of coaches; and the provision of locker rooms and facilities for both practice and competition and training facilities and services.

On October 15, 2003, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama (Judge Robert B. Propst) dismissed with prejudice all claims against the superintendent. On May 7, 2004, the parties entered into a settlement agreement, settling all issues except the payment of attorneys' fees. On November 2, 2004, the Court dismissed with prejudice all claims in accordance with the parties' settlement agreement. On November 5, 2004, the parties entered into another settlement agreement settling the issue of attorneys' fees for $43,000.

The case was closed on November 2, 2004.

Summary Authors

Heather Turner (3/24/2014)

People

Judge(s)

Propst, Robert Bruce (Alabama)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Schiller, Samuel (Tennessee)

Yasser, Raymond (Oklahoma)

Attorney for Defendant

Knowles, Christie D (Alabama)

Sullivan, Joshua B. (Alabama)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

4:03-cv-02159

Docket

Johnson v. Gadsden City School District

Nov. 5, 2004

Nov. 5, 2004

Docket
1

4:03-cv-02159

Complaint

Johnson v. Garden City School District

Aug. 5, 2003

Aug. 5, 2003

Complaint
14

4:03-cv-02159

Dismissal Order

Johnson v. Gadsen City School District

Oct. 15, 2003

Oct. 15, 2003

Order/Opinion
19

4:03-cv-02159

Order

Johnson v. Gadsen City School District

Nov. 2, 2004

Nov. 2, 2004

Order/Opinion
20

4:03-cv-02159

Settlement Agreemement

Johnson v. Gadsen City School District

Nov. 5, 2004

Nov. 5, 2004

Settlement Agreement

Docket

Last updated March 27, 2025, 8:50 a.m.

ECF Number Date Description Link
1 Aug. 5, 2003

COMPLAINT filed, amount paid $ 150, receipt # 200−193732 (Former Employee) (Entered: 08/05/2003)

PACER
2 Aug. 5, 2003

MOTION by plaintiffs for attorney Samuel J Schiller to appear pro hac vice filed cs (Former Employee) (Entered: 08/05/2003)

PACER
3 Aug. 5, 2003

MOTION by plaintiffs for attorney Ray Yasser to appear pro hac vice filed cs (Former Employee) (Entered: 08/05/2003)

PACER
Aug. 5, 2003

PRO HAC VICE admission fee of $100 paid on 8/5/03 receipt #200−193733 [2−1] [3−1] (Former Employee) (Entered: 08/05/2003)

PACER
4 Aug. 11, 2003

2 − ORDER granting motion for attorney Samuel J Schiller to appear pro hac vice [2−1] ( by Judge Robert B. Propst ) entered cm (MAA) (Entered: 08/11/2003)

PACER
5 Aug. 11, 2003

3 − ORDER granting motion for attorney Ray Yasser to appear pro hac vice [3−1] ( by Judge Robert B. Propst ) entered cm (MAA) (Entered: 08/11/2003)

PACER
6 Sept. 22, 2003

WAIVER of service by defendant Bob Russell, Superintendent of Gadsden City School District filed (MAA) (Entered: 09/24/2003)

PACER
7 Sept. 25, 2003

ANSWER by defendant Gadsden City Schools w/appear by atty(s) Joshua B Sullivan, Christie D Knowles filed cs (MAA) (Entered: 09/25/2003)

PACER
8 Sept. 25, 2003

MOTION by defendant Bob Russell to dismiss filed cs (MAA) (Entered: 09/25/2003)

PACER
9 Sept. 26, 2003

ORDER (Submission) that the motion to dismiss [8−1] is submitted; pla to respond to said motion within 10 workings days; dfts may reply within 7 working days thereafter; initial briefs are limited to 25 pages; reply briefs 14 pages filed ( Magistrate−Judge Paul W. Greene for Robert R. Propst ) cm (KSS) (Entered: 09/26/2003)

PACER
Oct. 1, 2003

DOCKET modification (utility event) ; Pretrial scheduling conf set for 2/27/04 (SCL) (Entered: 10/01/2003)

PACER
10 Oct. 3, 2003

ORDER scheduling that ;discovery cutoff 2/22/04 ; notice of compliance 10/18/03,other time limits as set out by Judge Robert B. Propst entered cm (MAA) (Entered: 10/03/2003)

PACER
11 Oct. 6, 2003

RESPONSE by plaintiff to dft's motion to dismiss [8−1] filed cs (MAA) (Entered: 10/06/2003)

PACER
12 Oct. 10, 2003

8 − ORDER granting motion to dismiss Bob Russell as a dft [8−1] ( by Judge Robert B. Propst ) entered cm (KAM) (Entered: 10/10/2003)

PACER
13 Oct. 10, 2003

NOTICE of compliance by defendant Gadsden City Schools with [10−1] filed cs (MAA) (Entered: 10/14/2003)

PACER
Oct. 10, 2003

DOCKET modification (utility event) to dismiss party Bob Russell see order #12 (KAM) (Entered: 10/10/2003)

PACER
14 Oct. 15, 2003

ORDER −Pursuant to order of 10/10/03, all claims against Bob Russell in his official capacity as Superintendent of the Gadsden City School District are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE filed ( by Judge Robert B. Propst ) cm (MAA) (Entered: 10/15/2003)

PACER
16 Oct. 17, 2003

NOTICE of compliance by plaintiff Russell Johnson, plaintiff Mary Johnson with [10−1] filed cs (MAA) (Entered: 10/17/2003)

PACER
17 Oct. 20, 2003

15 − ORDER granting motion to amend scheduling oder to extend discovery to 6/1/04, all potentially dispositive motions to 7/1/04 [15−1] and other ddls as set out ( by Judge Robert B. Propst ) entered cm (MAA) Modified on 10/21/2003 (Entered: 10/21/2003)

PACER
Oct. 21, 2003

DOCKET modification (utility event) ; Discovery cutoff 6/1/04 (MAA) (Entered: 10/21/2003)

PACER
Dec. 4, 2003

DOCKET modification (utility event) ; Pretrial scheduling conf reset for 8/27/04 (SCL) (Entered: 12/04/2003)

PACER
Jan. 27, 2004

DOCKET modification (utility event) ; Pretrial scheduling conf reset for 8/30/04 (SCL) (Entered: 01/27/2004)

PACER
Jan. 29, 2004

DOCKET modification (utility event) ; Pretrial scheduling conf reset for 8/27/04 (SCL) (Entered: 01/29/2004)

PACER
March 22, 2004

DOCKET modification (utility event) ; Pretrial scheduling conf reset for 8/30/04 (SCL) (Entered: 03/22/2004)

PACER
Aug. 24, 2004

DOCKET modification (utility event) ; Pretrial scheduling conf reset for 11/22/04 ; case has settled (SCL) (Entered: 08/24/2004)

PACER
18 Oct. 27, 2004

MOTION by defendant Gadsden City Schools, plaintiff Mary Johnson, plaintiff Russell Johnson to dismiss filed (MAA) (Entered: 10/28/2004)

PACER
19 Nov. 2, 2004

ORDER −After consideration of joint motion to dismiss, it is ORDERED that above−styled claim and cause of action be dismissed with prejudice in accordance with parties Settlement Agreement to dismiss case filed ( by Judge Robert B. Propst ) cm (MAA) (Entered: 11/02/2004)

PACER
20 Nov. 5, 2004

NOTICE of settlement agreement filed by defendant, plaintiff (MAA) (Entered: 11/08/2004)

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory:

Alabama

Case Type(s):

Education

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Aug. 5, 2003

Closing Date: 2004

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Parents as next friends of their three minor student daughters.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

School District

Gadsden City School District

Defendant Type(s):

Elementary/Secondary School

Facility Type(s):

Government-run

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq.

Constitutional Clause(s):

Equal Protection

Other Dockets:

Northern District of Alabama 4:03-cv-02159

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed

Relief Granted:

Attorneys fees

Unknown

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Private Settlement Agreement

Issues

Discrimination Area:

Sports

Discrimination Basis:

Sex discrimination

Affected Sex/Gender(s):

Female

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