Case: Caspar v. Snyder

4:14-cv-11499 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

Filed Date: April 14, 2014

Closed Date: May 20, 2015

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Case Summary

On April 14, 2014, several same-sex couples married in Michigan on March 22, 2014 filed this § 1983 civil rights action against the State in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The plaintiffs, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union and private counsel, asked the court to declare that the same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional when applied to Michigan's same-sex couples, to enjoin the State of Michigan from refusing to recognize those marriages, and to award attorney's fees and costs. The complaint named the governor, and the directors of the Department of Human Services, the Office of Retirement Services, and the Department of Community Health as defendants in their official capacities. The case was assigned to District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith and referred to Magistrate Judge Mona K. Majzoub.

The plaintiffs had all been married in Michigan on March 22nd, 2014, during the window of time between the decision in DeBoer v. Snyder, which overturned the ban on same-sex marriage, and the stay issued by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, which had enjoined the state from enforcing the ban on same-sex marriage. The plaintiffs' marriages were legal at the time they were solemnized. After the stay, the governor of Michigan suspended the benefits and rights associated with the plaintiffs' marriages. The plaintiffs alleged the suspension put their marriages in a state of legal limbo and violated their rights to due process and equal protection.

The plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary injunction on May 29, 2014, and the defendants filed motions to stay, to dismiss, and to consolidate cases. On January 15, 2015, Judge Goldsmith ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, granting their motion for a preliminary injunction enjoining the State of Michigan from refusing to recognize the marriages of all same-sex couples lawfully married in the state between the district court's decision in DeBoer v. Snyder and before the issuance of the stay by the Sixth Circuit. The judge also denied the defendants' motions to stay, to dismiss, and to consolidate cases.

A final declaratory judgment permanently enjoining the defendants was issued on February 24, 2015. It is unclear from the docket whether the plaintiffs were awarded attorneys' fees in this case. The case is now closed.


4:14-cv-11499	Docket [PACER]	May 20, 2015	May 20, 2015 Docket
1 4:14-cv-11499	Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief	April 14, 2014	April 14, 2014 Complaint
46 4:14-cv-11499	Opinion and Order (1) Granting Plaintiffs' Motion for a Preliminary Injunction (Dkt. 17), And (2) Denying Defendants' Motions For a Stay (Dkt. 20), To Dismiss (Dkt. 21), And to Consolidate Cases (Dkt. 27) Casper v. Snyder	Jan. 15, 2015	Jan. 15, 2015 Order/Opinion 77 F.Supp.3d 616
50 4:14-cv-11499	Declaratory Judgment and Permanent Injunction	Feb. 24, 2015	Feb. 24, 2015 Order/Opinion

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	April 14, 2014	COMPLAINT filed by All Plaintiffs against All Defendants. Plaintiff requests summons issued. Receipt No: 0645-4593819 - Fee: $ 400. County of 1st Plaintiff: Ingham - County Where Action Arose: Multiple Counties - County of 1st Defendant: Washtenaw. [Previously dismissed case: No] [Possible companion case(s): E.D. Mich., 12-cv-10285, Judge Friedman] (Kaplan, Jay) (Entered: 04/14/2014)	RECAP
2	April 14, 2014	NOTICE of Appearance by Daniel S. Korobkin on behalf of All Plaintiffs. (Korobkin, Daniel) (Entered: 04/14/2014)	RECAP
3	April 14, 2014	NOTICE of Appearance by Michael J. Steinberg on behalf of All Plaintiffs. (Steinberg, Michael) (Entered: 04/14/2014)	RECAP
4	April 14, 2014	NOTICE of Appearance by Brooke A. Merriweather-Tucker on behalf of All Plaintiffs. (Merriweather-Tucker, Brooke) (Entered: 04/14/2014)	RECAP
5	April 15, 2014	SUMMONS Issued for * All Defendants * (DWor) (Entered: 04/15/2014)	RECAP
	April 15, 2014	A United States Magistrate Judge of this Court is available to conduct all proceedings in this civil action in accordance with 28 U.S.C. 636c and FRCP 73. The Notice, Consent, and Reference of a Civil Action to a Magistrate Judge form is available for download at http://www.mied.uscourts.gov (DWor)
6	April 16, 2014	ATTORNEY APPEARANCE: John A. Knight appearing on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Knight, John) (Entered: 04/16/2014)	RECAP
7	April 17, 2014	NOTICE of Appearance by Andrew A. Nickelhoff on behalf of All Plaintiffs. (Nickelhoff, Andrew) (Entered: 04/17/2014)	RECAP
8	April 30, 2014	CERTIFICATE of Service/Summons Returned Executed. Phil Stoddard served on 4/24/2014, answer due 5/15/2014. (Steinberg, Michael) (Entered: 04/30/2014)	RECAP
9	April 30, 2014	CERTIFICATE of Service/Summons Returned Executed. James Haveman served on 4/24/2014, answer due 5/15/2014. (Steinberg, Michael) (Entered: 04/30/2014)	RECAP
10	April 30, 2014	CERTIFICATE of Service/Summons Returned Executed. Maura Corrigan served on 4/24/2014, answer due 5/15/2014. (Steinberg, Michael) (Entered: 04/30/2014)	RECAP
11	April 30, 2014	CERTIFICATE of Service/Summons Returned Executed. Rick Snyder served on 4/24/2014, answer due 5/15/2014. (Steinberg, Michael) (Entered: 04/30/2014)	RECAP
12	May 1, 2014	NOTICE of Appearance by Michael F. Murphy on behalf of All Defendants. (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 05/01/2014)	RECAP
13	May 1, 2014	STIPULATION for Extension of Time by All Defendants (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 05/01/2014)	RECAP
14	May 1, 2014	NOTICE of Appearance by Christina M. Grossi on behalf of All Defendants. (Grossi, Christina) (Entered: 05/01/2014)	RECAP
15	May 6, 2014	ORDER Striking 13 Stipulation. Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (Goltz, D) (Entered: 05/06/2014)	RECAP
16	May 6, 2014	STIPULATION AND ORDER to Extend Time to Answer 1 Complaint, (Response due by 6/5/2014). Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (Goltz, D) (Entered: 05/06/2014)	RECAP
17	May 29, 2014	MOTION for Preliminary Injunction by All Plaintiffs. (Attachments: # 1 Index of Exhibits, # 2 Exhibit A - Caspar Declaration, # 3 Exhibit B - DeJong Declaration, # 4 Exhibit C - Callison Declaration, # 5 Exhibit D - Wolf Declaration, # 6 Exhibit E - Rutledge Declaration, # 7 Exhibit F - Colasonti Declaration, # 8 Exhibit G - Ryder Declaration, # 9 Exhibit H - McCormack Declaration, # 10 Exhibit I - Reamer Declaration, # 11 Exhibit J - Kelly Callison, # 12 Exhibit K - Anteau Declaration, # 13 Exhibit L - Haddock Declaration, # 14 Exhibit M - Contreras Declaration, # 15 Exhibit N - Orr Declaration, # 16 Exhibit O - Miller Declaration, # 17 Exhibit P - Racine Declaration, # 18 Exhibit Q - DeBoer v. Snyder Judgment, # 19 Exhibit Strauss v. Horton Amicus Brief) (Nickelhoff, Andrew) (Entered: 05/29/2014) 1 Index of Exhibits View on PACER 2 Exhibit A - Caspar Declaration View on PACER 3 Exhibit B - DeJong Declaration View on PACER 4 Exhibit C - Callison Declaration View on PACER 5 Exhibit D - Wolf Declaration View on PACER 6 Exhibit E - Rutledge Declaration View on PACER 7 Exhibit F - Colasonti Declaration View on PACER 8 Exhibit G - Ryder Declaration View on PACER 9 Exhibit H - McCormack Declaration View on PACER 10 Exhibit I - Reamer Declaration View on PACER 11 Exhibit J - Kelly Callison View on PACER 12 Exhibit K - Anteau Declaration View on PACER 13 Exhibit L - Haddock Declaration View on PACER 14 Exhibit M - Contreras Declaration View on PACER 15 Exhibit N - Orr Declaration View on PACER 16 Exhibit O - Miller Declaration View on PACER 17 Exhibit P - Racine Declaration View on PACER 18 Exhibit Q - DeBoer v. Snyder Judgment View on PACER 19 Exhibit Strauss v. Horton Amicus Brief View on PACER	RECAP
18	May 29, 2014	Ex Parte MOTION for Leave to File Excess Pages by All Plaintiffs. (Nickelhoff, Andrew) (Entered: 05/29/2014)	RECAP
19	May 30, 2014	NOTICE of Appearance by Joshua O. Booth on behalf of All Defendants. (Booth, Joshua) (Entered: 05/30/2014)	RECAP
	June 2, 2014	TEXT-ONLY ORDER Granting 18 Ex Parte MOTION for Leave to File Excess Pages. Issued by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (Goltz, D)
20	June 5, 2014	MOTION to Stay by All Defendants. (Attachments: # 1 Document Continuation attached case, # 2 Document Continuation attached case, # 3 Document Continuation attached case, # 4 Index of Exhibits, # 5 Exhibit 1, # 6 Exhibit 2, # 7 Exhibit 3, # 8 Exhibit 4, # 9 Exhibit 5) (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 06/05/2014) 1 Document Continuation attached case View on PACER 2 Document Continuation attached case View on PACER 3 Document Continuation attached case View on PACER 4 Index of Exhibits View on PACER 5 Exhibit 1 View on PACER 6 Exhibit 2 View on PACER 7 Exhibit 3 View on PACER 8 Exhibit 4 View on PACER 9 Exhibit 5 View on PACER	RECAP
21	June 5, 2014	MOTION to Dismiss by All Defendants. (Attachments: # 1 Index of Exhibits, # 2 Exhibit 1, # 3 Exhibit 2, # 4 Exhibit 3, # 5 Exhibit 4) (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 06/05/2014) 1 Index of Exhibits View on PACER 2 Exhibit 1 View on PACER 3 Exhibit 2 View on PACER 4 Exhibit 3 View on PACER 5 Exhibit 4 View on PACER	RECAP
22	June 19, 2014	RESPONSE to 17 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by All Defendants. (Attachments: # 1 Index of Exhibits, # 2 Exhibit 1, # 3 Exhibit 2, # 4 Exhibit 3, # 5 Exhibit 4, # 6 Exhibit 5, # 7 Exhibit 6) (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 06/19/2014) 1 Index of Exhibits View on PACER 2 Exhibit 1 View on PACER 3 Exhibit 2 View on PACER 4 Exhibit 3 View on PACER 5 Exhibit 4 View on PACER 6 Exhibit 5 View on PACER 7 Exhibit 6 View on PACER	RECAP
23	June 23, 2014	STIPULATION AND ORDER for Extension of Time for Plaintiffs' Response to Defendants' 20 MOTION to Stay, (Response due by 6/30/2014). Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (Goltz, D) (Entered: 06/23/2014)	RECAP
24	June 30, 2014	RESPONSE to 20 MOTION to Stay Hold Case in Abeyance Pending Appeal in DeBoer filed by All Plaintiffs. (Nickelhoff, Andrew) (Entered: 06/30/2014)	RECAP
25	June 30, 2014	RESPONSE to 21 MOTION to Dismiss filed by All Plaintiffs. (Nickelhoff, Andrew) (Entered: 06/30/2014)	RECAP
26	June 30, 2014	Ex Parte MOTION for Leave to File Excess Pages Response to Motion to Dismiss by All Plaintiffs. (Nickelhoff, Andrew) (Entered: 06/30/2014)	RECAP
27	July 1, 2014	MOTION to Consolidate Cases by All Defendants. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Blankenship Complaint) (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 07/01/2014) 1 Exhibit Blankenship Complaint View on PACER	RECAP
28	July 1, 2014	NOTICE by All Defendants re 27 MOTION to Consolidate Cases (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 07/01/2014)	RECAP
	July 1, 2014	TEXT-ONLY ORDER Granting 26 Ex Parte MOTION for Leave to File Excess Pages Response to Motion to Dismiss filed by Clint McCormack, Frank Colasonti, Jr., Marsha Caspar, James Barclay Ryder, James Anteau, Bryan Reamer, Carrie Miller, Martin Contreras, Samantha Wolf, Anne Callison, Glenna DeJong, Martha Rutledge, Keith Orr, Kelly Callison, Bianca Racine, Jared Haddock. Issued by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (Goltz, D)
29	July 2, 2014	STIPULATION AND ORDER Extending Time for Defendants to File Reply to Response to 20 MOTION to Stay, (Response due by 7/14/2014). Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (Goltz, D) (Entered: 07/02/2014)	RECAP
30	July 7, 2014	REPLY to Response re 17 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by All Plaintiffs. (Nickelhoff, Andrew) (Entered: 07/07/2014)	RECAP
31	July 14, 2014	REPLY to Response re 21 MOTION to Dismiss filed by All Defendants. (Attachments: # 1 case, # 2 case, # 3 case) (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 07/14/2014) 1 case View on PACER 2 case View on PACER 3 case View on PACER	RECAP
32	July 14, 2014	Ex Parte MOTION for Leave to File Excess Pages by All Defendants. (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 07/14/2014)	RECAP
33	July 14, 2014	REPLY to Response re 20 MOTION to Stay filed by All Defendants. (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 07/14/2014)	RECAP
34	July 14, 2014	Ex Parte MOTION for Leave to File Excess Pages by All Defendants. (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 07/14/2014)	RECAP
35	July 15, 2014	NOTICE TO APPEAR: Status Conference set for 7/24/2014 @ 3:00 PM LOCATION: FLINT, MICHIGAN before District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith (Goltz, D) (Entered: 07/15/2014)	RECAP
	July 15, 2014	TEXT-ONLY ORDER Granting 32 Ex Parte MOTION for Leave to File Excess Pages filed by Phil Stoddard, James Haveman, Rick Snyder, Maura Corrigan and 34 Ex Parte MOTION for Leave to File Excess Pages filed by Phil Stoddard, James Haveman, Rick Snyder, Maura Corrigan. Issued by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (Goltz, D)
36	July 18, 2014	RESPONSE to 27 MOTION to Consolidate Cases filed by All Plaintiffs. (Nickelhoff, Andrew) (Entered: 07/18/2014)	RECAP
	July 24, 2014	Minute Entry for proceedings held before District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith: Status Conference held on 7/24/2014. (Goltz, D)
37	July 25, 2014	NOTICE OF HEARING on 27 MOTION to Consolidate Cases, 17 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction, 21 MOTION to Dismiss, 20 MOTION to Stay . Motion Hearing set for 8/21/2014 @ 9:30 AM LOCATION: FLINT, MICHIGAN before District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith (Goltz, D) (Entered: 07/25/2014)	RECAP
38	July 25, 2014	REPLY to Response re 27 MOTION to Consolidate Cases filed by All Defendants. (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 07/25/2014)	RECAP
39	Aug. 5, 2014	NOTICE of Appearance by Julian Davis Mortenson on behalf of All Plaintiffs. (Mortenson, Julian) (Entered: 08/05/2014)	RECAP
40	Aug. 15, 2014	SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEF re 20 MOTION to Stay filed by All Defendants. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit) (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 08/15/2014) 1 Exhibit View on PACER	RECAP
	Aug. 18, 2014	Set/Reset Deadlines as to 27 MOTION to Consolidate Cases, 17 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction, 21 MOTION to Dismiss, 20 MOTION to Stay . Motion Hearing RESET for 8/21/2014 @ 9:30 AM LOCATION ONLY THEORDORE LEVIN COURTHOUSE, 231 W. LAFAYETTE, DETROIT COURTROOM #225 - JUDGE COHN'S COURTROOM before District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith (Goltz, D)
	Aug. 19, 2014	TEXT-ONLY ORDER: At the forthcoming 8/21/2014 hearing on all pending motions, Plaintiffs' counsel will be allowed up to one hour for an opening argument and Defendants' counsel will be allowed up to one hour for an opening argument; each side will then be allowed up to 30 minutes for rebuttal. Due to the overlap of issues, counsel may address the pending motions in any order they wish within their allotted time. Issued by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (Goltz, D)
41	Aug. 21, 2014	NOTICE by Erin Dawn Blankenship, Shayla Blankenship re 27 MOTION to Consolidate Cases, 28 Notice (Other) (Gibbs, Alec) (Entered: 08/21/2014)	RECAP
	Aug. 21, 2014	Minute Entry for proceedings held before District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith: Motion Hearing held on 8/21/2014 re 20 MOTION to Stay filed by Phil Stoddard, James Haveman, Rick Snyder, Maura Corrigan; 21 MOTION to Dismiss filed by Phil Stoddard, James Haveman, Rick Snyder, Maura Corrigan; 27 MOTION to Consolidate Cases filed by Phil Stoddard, James Haveman, Rick Snyder, Maura Corrigan; 17 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by Clint McCormack, Frank Colasonti, Jr., Marsha Caspar, James Barclay Ryder, James Anteau, Bryan Reamer, Carrie Miller, Martin Contreras, Samantha Wolf, Anne Callison, Glenna DeJong, Martha Rutledge, Keith Orr, Kelly Callison, Bianca Racine, Jared Haddock. Disposition: MOTIONS TAKEN UNDER ADVISEMENT. (Court Reporter David Yarbrough) (JCur)
42	Nov. 7, 2014	ORDER FOR SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEFING as to 27 Defendants' MOTION to Consolidate Cases; 17 Plaintiffs' MOTION for Preliminary Injunction; 21 Defendants' MOTION to Dismiss; 20 Defendants' MOTION to Stay: (Defendant's briefs due by 12/14/2014; Plaintiffs' briefs due by 12/21/2014). (Refer to image for additional details). Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (JCur) (Entered: 11/07/2014)	RECAP
43	Nov. 14, 2014	SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEF re 42 Order, Set Motion and R&R Deadlines/Hearings,, filed by Maura Corrigan, James Haveman, Rick Snyder, Phil Stoddard. (Booth, Joshua) (Entered: 11/14/2014)	RECAP
44	Nov. 19, 2014	SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEF re 42 Order, Set Motion and R&R Deadlines/Hearings,, filed by All Plaintiffs. (Attachments: # 1 Index of Exhibits, # 2 Exhibit 1 - Snyder issues statement, # 3 Exhibit 2 - Evans v. Utah - Stipulated Dismissal Order) (Nickelhoff, Andrew) (Entered: 11/19/2014) 1 Index of Exhibits View on PACER 2 Exhibit 1 - Snyder issues statement View on PACER 3 Exhibit 2 - Evans v. Utah - Stipulated Dismissal Order View on PACER	RECAP
45	Nov. 19, 2014	NOTICE by All Plaintiffs of Factual Development (Nickelhoff, Andrew) (Entered: 11/19/2014)	RECAP
46	Jan. 15, 2015	OPINION and ORDER (1) Granting Plaintiffs' Motion For A Preliminary Injunction 17 , And (2) Denying Defendants' Motions For A Stay 20 , To Dismiss 21 , And To Consolidate Cases 27 . Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (JCur)	RECAP
47	Feb. 9, 2015	ORDER REGARDING SUBMISSION OF JOINT MEMORANDUM. Joint submissions due on or before 2/20/2015. Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (JCur) (Entered: 02/09/2015)	RECAP
48	Feb. 20, 2015	MEMORANDUM re 47 Order by All Defendants (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 02/20/2015)	RECAP
49	Feb. 24, 2015	STIPULATION AND ORDER To Extend Time For Plaintiffs To Move For Attorney Fees And Costs. Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (JCur) (Entered: 02/24/2015)	RECAP
50	Feb. 24, 2015	DECLARATORY JUDGMENT AND PERMANENT INJUNCTION. Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (JCur) (Entered: 02/24/2015)	RECAP
51	May 20, 2015	STIPULATED ORDER Extending Time For Plaintiffs To Move For Attorneys' Fees And Costs by 6/23/2015. Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (JCur) (Entered: 05/20/2015)	RECAP

Case: Caspar v. Snyder

4:14-cv-11499 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

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