Case: United States v. City of Alma and Bacon County Georgia

5:99-cv-00068 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia

Filed Date: June 5, 1999

Closed Date: Nov. 18, 2004

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On June 5th, 1999, the United States Department of Justice ("D.O.J.") filed a lawsuit under Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., against the City of Alma and Bacon County, Georgia in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. The DOJ sought injunctive relief, alleging that the defendant violated Title VII by discriminating against female employees because of sex. The defendants Alma and Bacon jointly operate an entity known as the Alma-Bacon County Fire and Emergen…

On June 5th, 1999, the United States Department of Justice ("D.O.J.") filed a lawsuit under Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., against the City of Alma and Bacon County, Georgia in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. The DOJ sought injunctive relief, alleging that the defendant violated Title VII by discriminating against female employees because of sex.

The defendants Alma and Bacon jointly operate an entity known as the Alma-Bacon County Fire and Emergency Medical Service, which provides firefighting and emergency medial services throughout the city of Alma and Bacon County. The DOJ alleged that the discrimination against female employees and female applicants took the form of failing or refusing to hire or consider females for hire into full-time Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician and/or Firefighter/Paramedic positions and failing or refusing to take appropriate action to correct the effects of the discrimination.

Their motion for intervention having been granted by the Court, plaintiff-intervenors allege similar claims of discrimination in their complaint dated July 15, 1999.

Though the Defendants denied the allegations, the parties resolved all issues raised in the complaints amicably.

On November 18, 1999, the Court (Judge William T. Moore, Jr.) entered a Consent Decree resolving all issues raised in the complaints of the plaintiff and plaintiff-intervenors. The Decree ordered both general and specific injunctive relief, including the recruitment of qualified female applicants and extensive record-keeping requirements. The Court maintained jurisdiction for five years pursuant to the entry of the decree.

Summary Authors

Jennifer Hau (10/15/2007)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/22683430/parties/united-states-v-city-of-alma-georgia/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Fenton, William B. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Atwood, Scott E. (Georgia)

Buechner, William H. Jr (Georgia)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Boggs, Michael P. (Georgia)

Burrows, Charlotte (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

5:99-cv-00068

Docket

United States v. City of Alma Georgia

Jan. 11, 2007

Jan. 11, 2007

Docket
1

5:99-cv-00068

Complaint

United States v. City of Alma, Georgia and Bacon County, Georgia

June 15, 1999

June 15, 1999

Complaint
9

5:99-cv-00068

Answer of Defendant City of Alma

United States of America v. City of Alma, Georgia

July 16, 1999

July 16, 1999

Pleading / Motion / Brief
41

5:99-cv-00068

Intervenor Complaint

United States of America v. City of Alma, Georgia

Aug. 11, 1999

Aug. 11, 1999

Complaint
48

5:99-cv-00068

Consent Decree

United States of America v. City of Alma, Georgia and Bacon County, Georgia

Nov. 18, 1999

Nov. 18, 1999

Settlement Agreement

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/22683430/united-states-v-city-of-alma-georgia/

Last updated March 20, 2024, 3:17 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT (fbh) (Entered: 06/16/1999)

June 15, 1999

June 15, 1999

Clearinghouse
2

ANSWER to Local Rule 26.3 Interrogatories by United States (fbh) (Entered: 06/16/1999)

June 15, 1999

June 15, 1999

PACER

SUMMONS(ES) issued for City of Alma Georgia Re: Thomas Deen, City Mananger and Roger Boatright, Mayor (fbh)

June 15, 1999

June 15, 1999

PACER

SUMMONS(ES) issued for Bacon County Re: Russell Tanner, Chairman, Bacon County Board of Commissioners (fbh)

June 16, 1999

June 16, 1999

PACER
3

Litigants' Bill of Rights filed by United States (ssl) (Entered: 06/28/1999)

June 28, 1999

June 28, 1999

PACER
4

SUMMONS Returned Executed as to Bacon County 6/17/99 Answer due on 7/7/99 for Bacon County (ssl) (Entered: 06/28/1999)

June 28, 1999

June 28, 1999

PACER
5

SUMMONS Returned Executed as to City of Alma Georgia 6/18/99 Answer due on 7/8/99 for City of Alma Georgia (ssl) (Entered: 06/28/1999)

June 28, 1999

June 28, 1999

PACER
6

SUMMONS Returned Executed as to City Manager of Alma Georgia 6/17/99 Answer due on 7/7/99 for City of Alma Georgia (ssl) (Entered: 06/28/1999)

June 28, 1999

June 28, 1999

PACER
7

ORDER granting stipulation to extend time for defts to answer complaint to 7/16/99; resetting Answer deadline to 7/16/99 for Bacon County, for City of Alma Georgia ( signed by Magistrate Judge James E. Graham ); [EOD Date 7/2/99 copies served. (slt) (Entered: 07/02/1999)

July 2, 1999

July 2, 1999

PACER
8

MOTION by Pamela F. Starling, Gail R. Berry, Jackie Embry, Janice Waters to Intervene with brief in support. (jgb) (Entered: 07/15/1999)

July 15, 1999

July 15, 1999

PACER
9

ANSWER to Complaint by City of Alma Georgia (Attorney J. Lewis Sapp), (dks) (Entered: 07/16/1999)

July 16, 1999

July 16, 1999

Clearinghouse
10

MOTION by City of Alma Georgia for attorney Scott E. Atwood to Appear Pro Hac Vice. with brief in support. (dks) (Entered: 07/16/1999)

July 16, 1999

July 16, 1999

PACER

Motion(s) referred: [10-1] motion for attorney Scott E. Atwood to Appear Pro Hac Vice. referred to Magistrate Judge James E. Graham (dks)

July 16, 1999

July 16, 1999

PACER
11

ANSWER to Complaint by Bacon County (Attorney George Ludlow Hoyt Jr.), (ssl) (Entered: 07/19/1999)

July 19, 1999

July 19, 1999

PACER

SCHEDULING NOTICE setting Summary Judgment deadline on 12/16/99 ; Joining of parties,amending of pleadings by 9/17/99 ; Motion Filing deadline on 12/6/99 ; Discovery cutoff 11/16/99 ; copies served. (ssl)

July 19, 1999

July 19, 1999

PACER

Pro Hac Vice paid by Scott E. Atwood for defendant City of Alma Georgia Receipt # 194797 Date: 7/19/99 (jgb)

July 19, 1999

July 19, 1999

PACER
12

RESPONSE by Bacon County to [8-1] motion to Intervene by Janice Waters, Jackie Embry, Gail R. Berry, Pamela F. Starling (ssl) (Entered: 07/22/1999)

July 22, 1999

July 22, 1999

PACER
13

CONSENT ORDER Response to Motion set to 7/22/99 for [8-1] motion to Intervene ( signed by Magistrate Judge James E. Graham ); [EOD Date 7/23/99 copies served. (jsr) (Entered: 07/23/1999)

July 23, 1999

July 23, 1999

PACER
14

ORDER granting [10-1] motion for attorney Scott E. Atwood to Appear Pro Hac Vice. Attorney added to case. ( signed by Magistrate Judge James E. Graham ); [EOD Date 7/30/99 copies served. (ddc) (Entered: 07/30/1999)

July 30, 1999

July 30, 1999

PACER
15

MOTION by United States for Leave to File Memorandum and Support Affidavit regarding Motion to Intervene and County's Response with brief in support. (dks) (Entered: 07/30/1999)

July 30, 1999

July 30, 1999

PACER
16

MEMORANDUM by United States in support of [15-1] motion for Leave to File Memorandum and Support Affidavit regarding Motion to Intervene and County's Response by United States (dks) (Entered: 07/30/1999)

July 30, 1999

July 30, 1999

PACER
17

AFFIDAVIT by United States Re: [15-1] motion for Leave to File Memorandum and Support Affidavit regarding Motion to Intervene and County's Response by United States (dks) (Entered: 07/30/1999)

July 30, 1999

July 30, 1999

PACER
18

AMENDED ANSWER to Local Rule 26.3 Interrogatories by United States (dks) (Entered: 07/30/1999)

July 30, 1999

July 30, 1999

PACER
19

ORDER granting in part, denying in part [8-1] motion to Intervene, allowing Pamela Starling to intervene as a pla and directing her to file her complaint within 7 days of this Order; it further directs the the Clerk to change the style of the case once the intervening complaint is filed ( signed by Judge William T. Moore ); [EOD Date 8/3/99 copies served. (jgb) (Entered: 08/03/1999)

Aug. 3, 1999

Aug. 3, 1999

PACER
20

AMENDED ANSWER to Complaint by Bacon County : amends [11-1] answer by Bacon County (jgb) (Entered: 08/04/1999)

Aug. 4, 1999

Aug. 4, 1999

PACER
21

MOTION by Bacon County for attorney Christopher Parker to Appear Pro Hac Vice. with brief in support. (jgb) (Entered: 08/04/1999)

Aug. 4, 1999

Aug. 4, 1999

PACER
22

MOTION by Bacon County for attorney William Buechner, Jr. to Appear Pro Hac Vice. with brief in support. (jgb) (Entered: 08/04/1999)

Aug. 4, 1999

Aug. 4, 1999

PACER

Motion(s) referred: [22-1] motion for attorney William Buechner, Jr. to Appear Pro Hac Vice. referred to Magistrate Judge James E. Graham, [21-1] motion for attorney Christopher Parker to Appear Pro Hac Vice. referred (jgb)

Aug. 4, 1999

Aug. 4, 1999

PACER

Motion(s) referred: [22-1] motion for attorney William Buechner, Jr. to Appear Pro Hac Vice. referred to Magistrate Judge James E. Graham, [21-1] motion for attorney Christopher Parker to Appear Pro Hac Vice. referred to Magistrate Judge James E. Graham (jgb)

Aug. 4, 1999

Aug. 4, 1999

PACER
23

MOTION by United States for Leave to File mem. and supporting affidavit re motion to intervene and County's response with brief in support. (jgb) (Entered: 08/06/1999)

Aug. 6, 1999

Aug. 6, 1999

PACER
24

NOTICE of Attorney Appearance for United States by Aaron D. Schuham (jgb) (Entered: 08/10/1999)

Aug. 9, 1999

Aug. 9, 1999

PACER
25

MOTION by Gail R. Berry, Jackie Embry, Janice Waters for Reconsideration of [19-1] order with brief in support. (ssl) (Entered: 08/11/1999)

Aug. 11, 1999

Aug. 11, 1999

PACER
41

Intervenor's COMPLAINT by Pamela F. Starling (jgb) (Entered: 10/01/1999)

Aug. 11, 1999

Aug. 11, 1999

Clearinghouse
26

ANSWER to Local Rule 26.3 Interrogatories by City of Alma Georgia (ssl) (Entered: 08/16/1999)

Aug. 16, 1999

Aug. 16, 1999

PACER

Pro Hac Vice paid by Christopher E. Parker for defendant Bacon County, William H. Buechner Jr. for defendant Bacon County Receipt # 195100 Date: 8/16/99 (ssl)

Aug. 16, 1999

Aug. 16, 1999

PACER
27

ANSWER to Local Rule 26.3 Interrogatories by Bacon County (ssl) (Entered: 08/19/1999)

Aug. 18, 1999

Aug. 18, 1999

PACER
28

JOINT MOTION by United States, City of Alma Georgia, Bacon County, Pamela F. Starling, Gail R. Berry, Jackie Embry, Janice Waters to Extend the Discovery Period with brief in support. (ssl) (Entered: 08/23/1999)

Aug. 23, 1999

Aug. 23, 1999

PACER
29

ORDER granting [22-1] motion for attorney William Buechner, Jr. to Appear Pro Hac Vice. ( signed by Magistrate Judge James E. Graham ); [EOD Date 8/23/99 copies served. (slt) (Entered: 08/23/1999)

Aug. 23, 1999

Aug. 23, 1999

PACER
30

ORDER granting [21-1] motion for attorney Christopher Parker to Appear Pro Hac Vice. (signed by Magistrate Judge James E. Graham ); [EOD Date 8/23/99 copies served. (slt) (Entered: 08/23/1999)

Aug. 23, 1999

Aug. 23, 1999

PACER
31

ORDER granting [28-1] motion to Extend the Discovery Period reset Discovery deadline to 12/16/99 with motion filing deadlines to be likewise extended. ( signed by Magistrate Judge James E. Graham ); [EOD Date 8/26/99 copies served. (ddc) (Entered: 08/26/1999)

Aug. 26, 1999

Aug. 26, 1999

PACER

SCHEDULING NOTICE setting Summary Judgment deadline on 1/15/00 ; Motion Filing deadline on 1/5/00 ; Discovery cutoff 12/16/99 ; copies served. (ddc)

Aug. 26, 1999

Aug. 26, 1999

PACER
32

MEMORANDUM by Bacon County in opposition to [25-1] motion for Reconsideration of [19-1] order by Janice Waters, Jackie Embry, Gail R. Berry (ssl) (Entered: 08/30/1999)

Aug. 30, 1999

Aug. 30, 1999

PACER
33

ANSWER to Plaintiff'-Intervenor Pamela F. Starling's Complaint by City of Alma Georgia (Attorney ), (ssl) (Entered: 08/31/1999)

Aug. 31, 1999

Aug. 31, 1999

PACER
34

ANSWER to Intervenor Complaint of Pamela F. Starling by Bacon County (Attorney ), (ssl) (Entered: 09/02/1999)

Sept. 2, 1999

Sept. 2, 1999

PACER
35

ORDER granting [25-1] motion for Reconsideration of [19-1] order, granting [23-1] motion for Leave to File mem. and supporting affidavit re motion to intervene and County's response, mooting [15-1] motion for Leave to File Memorandum and Support Affidavit regarding Motion to Intervene and County's Response, vacating [19-1] order with respect to Berry, Embry and Waters ( signed by Judge William T. Moore ); [EOD Date 9/7/99 copies served. (jgb) (Entered: 09/07/1999)

Sept. 7, 1999

Sept. 7, 1999

PACER
36

Intervenor's COMPLAINT by Gail R. Berry, Jackie Embry and janice Waters against City of Alma Georgia, Bacon County (jgb) Modified on 10/01/1999 (Entered: 09/17/1999)

Sept. 13, 1999

Sept. 13, 1999

PACER
37

ANSWER to Local Rule 26.3 Interrogatories by Pamela F. Starling, Gail R. Berry, Jackie Embry, Janice Waters (slt) (Entered: 09/20/1999)

Sept. 20, 1999

Sept. 20, 1999

PACER
38

Second Amended ANSWER to Local Rule 26.3 Interrogatories by United States (ssl) (Entered: 09/20/1999)

Sept. 20, 1999

Sept. 20, 1999

PACER

Pro Hac Vice paid by Walter O. Lambeth Jr. for defendant City of Alma Georgia Receipt #195451 Date: 9/29/99 (dks)

Sept. 30, 1999

Sept. 30, 1999

PACER
40

ANSWER by Gail R. Berry, Jackie Embry, Janice Waters to [36-1] intervenor complaint (jgb) (Entered: 10/01/1999)

Oct. 1, 1999

Oct. 1, 1999

PACER
39

ANSWER by Bacon County to [36-1] intervenor complaint (ssl) (Entered: 10/01/1999)

Oct. 1, 1999

Oct. 1, 1999

PACER
42

MOTION by City of Alma Georgia for attorney Walter O. Lambeth, Jr. to Appear Pro Hac Vice. with brief in support. (dks) Modified on 10/01/1999 (Entered: 10/01/1999)

Oct. 1, 1999

Oct. 1, 1999

PACER

Motion referred: [42-1] motion for attorney Walter O. Lambeth, Jr. to Appear Pro Hac Vice. referred to Magistrate Judge James E. Graham (dks)

Oct. 1, 1999

Oct. 1, 1999

PACER
43

ORDER granting [42-1] motion for attorney Walter O. Lambeth, Jr. to Appear Pro Hac Vice. Attorney previously added to case. ( signed by Magistrate Judge James E. Graham ); [EOD Date 10/4/99 copies served. (ddc) (Entered: 10/04/1999)

Oct. 4, 1999

Oct. 4, 1999

PACER
44

ORDER extending time reset Discovery deadline to 2/1/00, reset Motion Filing deadline to 2/21/00, reset Summary Judgment Deadline to 3/2/00 ( signed by Judge William T. Moore ); [EOD Date 10/4/99 copies served. (jgb) (Entered: 10/04/1999)

Oct. 4, 1999

Oct. 4, 1999

PACER
45

JOINT STATUS REPORT by United States, City of Alma Georgia, Bacon County, Pamela F. Starling, Gail R. Berry, Jackie Embry, Janice Waters, City of Alma Georgia, Bacon County (jgb) (Entered: 10/18/1999)

Oct. 15, 1999

Oct. 15, 1999

PACER
46

THIRD AMENDED ANSWER to Local Rule 26.3 Interrogatories by United States (ssl) (Entered: 11/09/1999)

Nov. 8, 1999

Nov. 8, 1999

PACER
47

JOINT MOTION by United States, City of Alma Georgia, Bacon County, Pamela F. Starling, Gail R. Berry, Jackie Embry, Janice Waters, City of Alma Georgia, Bacon County for Entry of Consent Decree with brief in support. (ssl) (Entered: 11/29/1999)

Nov. 11, 1999

Nov. 11, 1999

PACER
48

ORDER/Consent Decree and directing the Clerk to close the case. ( signed by Judge William T. Moore ); [EOD Date 11/22/99 copies served. (nys) Modified on 11/29/1999 (Entered: 11/22/1999)

Nov. 18, 1999

Nov. 18, 1999

Clearinghouse

Case closed (nys)

Nov. 18, 1999

Nov. 18, 1999

PACER

Record Transferred to FRC. Group 021, Accession 02-0277, Box 9 of 12, Location # 5-008-94-4-3 (evb)

Jan. 11, 2007

Jan. 11, 2007

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: Georgia

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

Special Collection(s):

IWPR/Wage Project Consent Decree Study

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: June 5, 1999

Closing Date: Nov. 18, 2004

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Female applicants for full-time Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician and/or Firefighter/Paramedic positions

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

City of Alma (Alma, Bacon), City

Bacon County (Alma, Bacon), County

Defendant Type(s):

Fire

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Mixed

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Damages

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 1999 - 2004

Issues

Discrimination-area:

Disparate Treatment

Hiring

Discrimination-basis:

Sex discrimination

Affected Sex or Gender:

Female