Case: Harold v. Richards

2:18-cv-00115 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Filed Date: Jan. 10, 2018

Closed Date: 2018

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Case Summary

On January 10, 2018, two Philadelphia residents convicted for possession of small amounts of drugs filed this class lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The plaintiffs sued three secretaries of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the governor of Pennsylvania because they believed a criminal state statute was unconstitutional. This statute automatically suspended a person's drivers' licenses in tandem with the conviction of a drug offense. Represented by Equal Justice Under Law, the plaintiffs sought a declaration that the statute was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection and Due Process clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. Specifically, they claimed that the statute targeted drug offenders as a disfavored class of persons without a rational basis; that the process of suspending their driver’s licenses was not sufficient to satisfy Due Process; and that the statute abridged their substantive Due Process rights to travel on interstate roadways. They also sought injunctive relief to enjoin state officials from implementing the statute.

The plaintiffs sought class certification on behalf of all individuals whose Pennsylvania driver’s licenses were suspended or would be suspended due to conviction of a drug offense. They also sought preliminary injunctive relief to immediately stop the Pennsylvania government from enforcing the statute while the litigation proceeded. The plaintiffs filed both of these motions filed the day after this action was initiated.

The defendants moved to dismiss the case, or in the alternative to strike the class action motion, on April 16, 2018. The court granted the defendant’s motion to dismiss on September 25, 2018. The court dismissed the original complaint with prejudice, preventing the plaintiffs from amending their complaint. Judge Cynthia Rufe found that there was a rational basis for the Pennsylvania legislature’s discrimination against drug offenders by suspending their licenses, which negated the Equal Protection claim. She also ruled against the procedural and substantive Due Process claims, stating that the criminal process which convicted the plaintiffs was sufficient process. The statute did not deny the plaintiffs the right to interstate travel—just the right to a Pennsylvania driver’s license, which was not a fundamental right. Judge Rufe concluded that the plaintiffs had raised meritorious policy arguments against the statute, but that the court was limited to only striking down unconstitutional statutes, not unwise ones.

This ended the action and the case is now closed.

Summary Authors

Nathan Santoscoy (2/6/2019)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6259915/parties/harold-v-richards/

Judge(s)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Goldstein, Zak (Pennsylvania)

Hatton, Marissa (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Aryani, Hedya (Pennsylvania)

Bassman, Barak (Pennsylvania)

Kovatis, Stephen R. (Pennsylvania)

Judge(s)

Rufe, Cynthia M. (Pennsylvania)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Goldstein, Zak (Pennsylvania)

Hatton, Marissa (District of Columbia)

Ramaswamy, Rebecca R. (District of Columbia)

Sevcenko, Catherine B. (District of Columbia)

Telfeyan, Phil (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Aryani, Hedya (Pennsylvania)

Bassman, Barak (Pennsylvania)

Kovatis, Stephen R. (Pennsylvania)

Pratt, A Michael (Pennsylvania)

Yaniak, Janine P (Pennsylvania)

Yu, Kay Kyungsun (Pennsylvania)

Zaffarese, Joseph (Pennsylvania)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

2:18-cv-00115	Docket [PACER]	Sept. 25, 2018	Sept. 25, 2018 Docket
1 2:18-cv-00115	Complaint	Jan. 10, 2018	Jan. 10, 2018 Complaint
37 2:18-cv-00115	Memorandum Opinion	Sept. 25, 2018	Sept. 25, 2018 Order/Opinion 334 F.Supp.3d 635

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Resources

Resources related to this case
Title	Description		External URL Date / External URL
DOJ Dear Colleague Letter to Courts Regarding Fines and Fees for Youth and Adults U.S. Department of Justice	The DOJ issued a Dear Colleague letter for state and local courts and juvenile justice agencies regarding the imposition and enforcement of fines and fees for adults and youth. The letter highlights …	April 20, 2023	April 20, 2023 https://www.justice.gov/...
Harold v. Richards Equal Justice Under Law	Pennsylvania targeted people with drug-related convictions in a particularly severe way — unlike for all other criminal offenses, the state automatically suspended the driver’s license of any person …	Jan. 10, 2018	Jan. 10, 2018 https://equaljusticeunderlaw.org/...

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6259915/harold-v-richards/

Last updated April 9, 2025, 4:16 p.m.

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
	Jan. 10, 2018	Summons Issued as to LEO BAGLEY, KURT MYERS, LESLIE RICHARDS, TOM WOLF. Four Forwarded To: Counsel on 1/11/18 (jwl, ) (Entered: 01/11/2018)	PACER
	Jan. 10, 2018	DEMAND for Trial by Jury by RUSSELL HAROLD, SEAN WILLIAMS. (jwl, ) (Entered: 01/11/2018)	PACER
1	Jan. 10, 2018	COMPLAINT against LEO BAGLEY, KURT MYERS, LESLIE RICHARDS, TOM WOLF ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number 171681.), filed by RUSSELL HAROLD, SEAN WILLIAMS. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Civil Cover Sheet)(jwl, ) (Additional attachment(s) added on 1/11/2018: # 6 Complaint Signature Page) (jwl, ). (Entered: 01/11/2018) 1 Exhibit View on PACER 2 Exhibit View on PACER 3 Exhibit View on PACER 4 Exhibit View on PACER 5 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 6 Complaint Signature Page View on PACER	RECAP
	Jan. 10, 2018	Summons Issued
	Jan. 10, 2018	Summons Issued as to LEO BAGLEY, KURT MYERS, LESLIE RICHARDS, TOM WOLF. Four Forwarded To: Counsel on 1/11/18 (jwl, )
	Jan. 10, 2018	Jury Demand
	Jan. 10, 2018	DEMAND for Trial by Jury by RUSSELL HAROLD, SEAN WILLIAMS. (jwl, )
2	Jan. 11, 2018	MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by RUSSELL HAROLD, SEAN WILLIAMS.Motion. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit Exhibit 4)(GOLDSTEIN, ZAK) (Entered: 01/11/2018) 1 Exhibit Exhibit 1 View on PACER 2 Exhibit Exhibit 2 View on PACER 3 Exhibit Exhibit 3 View on PACER 4 Exhibit Exhibit 4 View on PACER	RECAP
3	Jan. 11, 2018	MOTION to Certify Class filed by RUSSELL HAROLD, SEAN WILLIAMS.Motion. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit Exhibit 4, # 5 Exhibit Exhibit 5, # 6 Exhibit Exhibit 6)(GOLDSTEIN, ZAK) (Entered: 01/11/2018) 1 Exhibit Exhibit 1 View on PACER 2 Exhibit Exhibit 2 View on PACER 3 Exhibit Exhibit 3 View on PACER 4 Exhibit Exhibit 4 View on PACER 5 Exhibit Exhibit 5 View on PACER 6 Exhibit Exhibit 6 View on PACER	RECAP
4	Jan. 11, 2018	ORDER THAT THE ABOVE-CAPTIONED CASE IS REASSIGNED FROM THE CALENDAR OF THE HONORABLE ROBERT F. KELLY TO THE CALENDAR OF THE HONORABLE CYNTHIA M. RUFE. SIGNED BY KATE BARKMAN, CLERK OF COURT ON 1/11/18. 1/12/18 ENTERED AND COPIES E-MAILED AND MAILED TO UNREPRESENTED PARTIES.(kw, ) (Entered: 01/12/2018)	RECAP
5	Feb. 21, 2018	NOTICE of Appearance by STEPHEN R. KOVATIS on behalf of LEO BAGLEY, KURT MYERS, LESLIE RICHARDS, TOM WOLF with Certificate of Service(KOVATIS, STEPHEN) (Entered: 02/21/2018)	RECAP
6	Feb. 22, 2018	WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed by SEAN WILLIAMS, RUSSELL HAROLD. Waivers sent to All Defendants on 1/31/2018, answers due 4/2/2018. (GOLDSTEIN, ZAK) Modified on 2/26/2018 (tjd). (Entered: 02/22/2018)	RECAP
7	Feb. 26, 2018	First MOTION for Pro Hac Vice Admission of Catherine Sevcenko filed by RUSSELL HAROLD, SEAN WILLIAMS.Application.(GOLDSTEIN, ZAK) (Filing fee paid on 2/27/18) Modified on 2/28/2018 (kw, ). (Entered: 02/26/2018)	RECAP
8	Feb. 26, 2018	First MOTION for Pro Hac Vice Admission of Marissa Hatton filed by RUSSELL HAROLD, SEAN WILLIAMS..(GOLDSTEIN, ZAK) (Filing fee paid on 2/27/18) Modified on 2/28/2018 (kw, ). (Entered: 02/26/2018)	RECAP
9	Feb. 26, 2018	First MOTION for Pro Hac Vice Admission of Rebecca Ramaswamy filed by RUSSELL HAROLD, SEAN WILLIAMS..(GOLDSTEIN, ZAK) (Filing fee paid on 2/27/18) Modified on 2/28/2018 (kw, ). (Entered: 02/26/2018)	RECAP
10	Feb. 26, 2018	First MOTION for Pro Hac Vice Admission of Phil Telfeyan filed by RUSSELL HAROLD, SEAN WILLIAMS..(GOLDSTEIN, ZAK) (Filing fee paid on 2/27/18) Modified on 2/28/2018 (kw, ). (Entered: 02/26/2018)	RECAP
11	Feb. 28, 2018	ORDER THAT APPLICATION OF MARISSA HATTON, ESQ., TO PRACTICE IN THIS COURT PURSUANT TO L.R.C.P. 83.5.2(b) IS GRANTED. SIGNED BY HONORABLE CYNTHIA M. RUFE ON 2/28/18.3/1/18 ENTERED AND COPIES MAILED AND E-MAILED.(kw, ) (ECF FORM MAILED TO COUNSEL ON 3/1/18) (Entered: 03/01/2018)	RECAP
12	Feb. 28, 2018	ORDER THAT APPLICATION OF REBECCA RAMASWAMY, ESQ., TO PRACTICE IN THIS COURT PURSUANT TO L.R.C.P. 83.5.2(b) IS GRANTED. SIGNED BY HONORABLE CYNTHIA M. RUFE ON 2/28/18.3/1/18 ENTERED AND COPIES MAILED AND E-MAILED.(kw, ) (ECF FORM MAILED TO COUNSEL ON 3/1/18) (Entered: 03/01/2018)	RECAP
13	Feb. 28, 2018	ORDER THAT APPLICATION OF CATHERINE SEVCENKO, ESQ., TO PRACTICE IN THIS COURT PURSUANT TO L.R.C.P. 83.5.2(b) IS GRANTED. SIGNED BY HONORABLE CYNTHIA M. RUFE ON 2/28/18.3/1/18 ENTERED AND COPIES MAILED AND E-MAILED.(kw, ) (ECF FORM MAILED TO COUNSEL ON 3/1/18) (Entered: 03/01/2018)	RECAP
14	Feb. 28, 2018	ORDER THAT APPLICATION OF PHIL TELFEYAN, ESQ., TO PRACTICE IN THIS COURT PURSUANT TO L.R.C.P. 83.5.2(b) IS GRANTED. SIGNED BY HONORABLE CYNTHIA M. RUFE ON 2/28/18.3/1/18 ENTERED AND COPIES MAILED AND E-MAILED.(kw, ) (ECF FORM MAILED TO COUNSEL ON 3/1/18) (Entered: 03/01/2018)	RECAP
15	March 8, 2018	NOTICE of Appearance by BARAK BASSMAN on behalf of LEO BAGLEY, KURT MYERS, LESLIE RICHARDS, TOM WOLF with Certificate of Service(BASSMAN, BARAK) (Entered: 03/08/2018)	RECAP
16	March 8, 2018	NOTICE of Appearance by HEDYA ARYANI on behalf of LEO BAGLEY, KURT MYERS, LESLIE RICHARDS, TOM WOLF with Certificate of Service(ARYANI, HEDYA) (Entered: 03/08/2018)	RECAP
17	March 8, 2018	NOTICE of Appearance by A. MICHAEL PRATT on behalf of LEO BAGLEY, KURT MYERS, LESLIE RICHARDS, TOM WOLF with Certificate of Service(PRATT, A.) (Entered: 03/08/2018)	RECAP
18	March 8, 2018	NOTICE of Appearance by JANINE P. YANIAK, ESQ., on behalf of DEFTS LEO BAGLEY, KURT MYERS, LESLIE RICHARDS, TOM WOLF, Certificate of Service. (kw, ) (Entered: 03/09/2018)	RECAP
19	March 12, 2018	STIPULATION AND ORDER THAT THE STIPULATIONS ARE APPROVED AS FOLLOWS: DEFTS SHALL RESPOND TO PLFFS' MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION NO LATER THAN 3/27/2017 & SHALL RESPOND TO THE COMPLAINT NO LATER THAN 4/16/2018, ETC. SIGNED BY HONORABLE CYNTHIA M. RUFE ON 3/12/18. 3/13/18 ENTERED AND COPIES MAILED AND E-MAILED.(kw, ) (Entered: 03/13/2018)	RECAP
20	March 13, 2018	NOTICE of Withdrawal of Appearance by STEPHEN R. KOVATIS on behalf of LEO BAGLEY, KURT MYERS, LESLIE RICHARDS, TOM WOLF(KOVATIS, STEPHEN) (Entered: 03/13/2018)	RECAP
21	March 22, 2018	NOTICE of Appearance by KAY KYUNGSUN YU on behalf of LEO BAGLEY, KURT MYERS, LESLIE RICHARDS, TOM WOLF with Certificate of Service(YU, KAY) (Entered: 03/22/2018)	RECAP
22	March 22, 2018	NOTICE of Appearance by JOSEPH ZAFFARESE on behalf of LEO BAGLEY, KURT MYERS, LESLIE RICHARDS, TOM WOLF with Certificate of Service(ZAFFARESE, JOSEPH) (Entered: 03/22/2018)	RECAP
23	March 27, 2018	MOTION for Extension of Time to Complete Discovery, MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply to Plaintiffs' Motion for Class Certification filed by LEO BAGLEY, KURT MYERS, LESLIE RICHARDS, TOM WOLF.Certificate of Service.(YU, KAY) (Entered: 03/27/2018)	RECAP
24	March 27, 2018	Memorandum of Law in Opposition re 2 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by LEO BAGLEY, KURT MYERS, LESLIE RICHARDS, TOM WOLF. (Attachments: # 1 AFFIDAVIT OF KARAN. TEMPLETON, # 2 Exhibit A, # 3 Exhibit B)(PRATT, A.) (FILED IN ERROR BY ATTORNEY; ATTORNEY REFILE AS DOCUMENT 25 )Modified on 3/28/2018 (nd, ). (Entered: 03/27/2018) 1 AFFIDAVIT OF KARAN. TEMPLETON View on PACER 2 Exhibit A View on PACER 3 Exhibit B View on PACER	RECAP
25	March 27, 2018	Memorandum OF LAW IN OPPOSITION re 2 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by LEO BAGLEY, KURT MYERS, LESLIE RICHARDS, TOM WOLF. (Attachments: # 1 AFFIDAVIT OF KARAN. TEMPLETON, # 2 A, # 3 B, # 4 C)(PRATT, A.) (Entered: 03/27/2018) 1 AFFIDAVIT OF KARAN. TEMPLETON View on PACER 2 A View on PACER 3 B View on PACER 4 C View on PACER	RECAP
26	March 29, 2018	RESPONSE in Opposition re 23 MOTION for Extension of Time to Complete Discovery MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply to Plaintiffs' Motion for Class Certification filed by RUSSELL HAROLD, SEAN WILLIAMS. (HATTON, MARISSA) (Entered: 03/29/2018)	RECAP
27	April 5, 2018	ORDER THAT DEFTS' MOTION FOR LEAVE TO CONDUCT CLASS DISCOVERY & MOTION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME TO RESPOND TO PLFFS' MOTION FOR CLASS CERTIFICATION [DOC. NO. 23] IS DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. DEFTS SHALL RESPOND TO MOTION FOR CLASS CERTIFICATION NO LATER THAN 4/16/2018, ETC. SIGNED BY HONORABLE CYNTHIA M. RUFE ON 4/5/18. 4/5/18 ENTERED AND COPIES MAILED AND E-MAILED.(kw, ) (Entered: 04/05/2018)	RECAP
28	April 6, 2018	REPLY to Response to Motion re 2 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by RUSSELL HAROLD, SEAN WILLIAMS. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(HATTON, MARISSA) (Entered: 04/06/2018) 1 Exhibit View on PACER	RECAP
29	April 16, 2018	MOTION to Dismiss DEFENDANTS MOTION TO DISMISS, OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE, TO STRIKE PLAINTIFFS CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT filed by LEO BAGLEY, KURT MYERS, LESLIE RICHARDS, TOM WOLF.Memorandum in Support, Certificate of Service. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B)(PRATT, A.) (Entered: 04/16/2018) 1 Exhibit A View on PACER 2 Exhibit B View on PACER	RECAP
30	April 16, 2018	Memorandum of Law in Opposition re 3 MOTION to Certify Class filed by LEO BAGLEY, KURT MYERS, LESLIE RICHARDS, TOM WOLF. (PRATT, A.) Modified on 4/18/2018 (tjd). (Entered: 04/16/2018)	RECAP
31	April 16, 2018	Defendants' Sur-Reply Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction by LEO BAGLEY, KURT MYERS, LESLIE RICHARDS, TOM WOLF. (PRATT, A.) (Entered: 04/16/2018)	RECAP
32	April 26, 2018	REPLY to Response to Motion re 3 MOTION to Certify Class filed by RUSSELL HAROLD, SEAN WILLIAMS. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit)(HATTON, MARISSA) (Entered: 04/26/2018) 1 Exhibit View on PACER 2 Exhibit View on PACER	RECAP
33	April 30, 2018	RESPONSE in Opposition re 29 MOTION to Dismiss DEFENDANTS MOTION TO DISMISS, OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE, TO STRIKE PLAINTIFFS CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT filed by RUSSELL HAROLD, SEAN WILLIAMS. (HATTON, MARISSA) (Entered: 04/30/2018)	RECAP
34	May 8, 2018	Defendant's Sur-Reply Memorandum of Law in Opposition to 3 Plaintiffs' Motion for Class Certification. by LEO BAGLEY, KURT MYERS, LESLIE RICHARDS, TOM WOLF. (PRATT, A.) Modified on 5/9/2018 (tjd). (Entered: 05/08/2018)	RECAP
35	May 14, 2018	Defendants' Reply Brief in Support of their Motion to Dismiss, or in the Alternative, To Strike Plaintiffs' Class Action Complaint. by LEO BAGLEY, KURT MYERS, LESLIE RICHARDS, TOM WOLF. (PRATT, A.) (Entered: 05/14/2018)	RECAP
36	May 25, 2018	Sur-Reply to Motion re 29 MOTION to Dismiss DEFENDANTS MOTION TO DISMISS, OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE, TO STRIKE PLAINTIFFS CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT Sur-Reply in Opposition to Defendants' Motion to Dismiss filed by RUSSELL HAROLD, SEAN WILLIAMS. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit)(HATTON, MARISSA) Modified on 5/30/2018 (tjd). (Entered: 05/25/2018) 1 Exhibit View on PACER 2 Exhibit View on PACER 3 Exhibit View on PACER 4 Exhibit View on PACER 5 Exhibit View on PACER	RECAP
37	Sept. 25, 2018	MEMORANDUM AND/OR OPINION. SIGNED BY HONORABLE CYNTHIA M. RUFE ON 9/25/18. 9/5/18 ENTERED AND COPIES E-MAILED.(kw, ) (Entered: 09/25/2018)	RECAP
38	Sept. 25, 2018	ORDER THAT DEFTS' MOTION TO DISMISS [DOC. NO. 29] IS GRANTED. THE COMPLAINT IS DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE, ETC. PLFFS' MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION [DOC. NO. 2] & MOTION FOR CLASS CERTIFICATION [DOC. NO. 3] ARE DISMISSED AS MOOT. THE CLERK IS DIRECTED TO CLOSE THIS CASE. SIGNED BY HONORABLE CYNTHIA M. RUFE ON 9/25/18. 9/5/18 ENTERED AND COPIES E-MAILED.(kw, ) (Entered: 09/25/2018)	RECAP