Filed Date: Sept. 17, 1993
Closed Date: 2001
Clearinghouse coding complete
On September 17, 1993, eighteen white current and former employees of the sheriff's department filed a lawsuit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq., 42 U.S.C. § 1981, and 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia against Fulton County, Georgia. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel alleged racial discrimination. Specifically, the plaintiffs alleged that Fulton County and the sheriff had intentionally discriminated on the basis of race with respect to discipline, promotions, transfers, reclassifications, promotional examinations, restorations of rank, and appointments to unclassified positions.
On April 15, 1994, the court (Judge G. E. Tidwell) certified a class consisting of all past, present, and future sworn white employees of Fulton City Sheriff's Department who alleged discriminatory acts by defendants within the applicable limitations period. On May 3, 1996, a jury trial began. On June 12, 1996, the jury awarded damages to fifteen of the eighteen plaintiffs. On July 8, 1996, the plaintiffs moved to amend the judgment, requesting injunctive relief and back pay. On July 10, 1996, the court (Judge Hunt) vacated the judgment and the court entered a modified judgment for damages, back pay, individual equitable relief, and class-based injunctive relief. On September 6, 1996 the court (Judge Hunt) decertified the action as a class action for damages and ordered $1,000,000 compensatory and punitive damages, plus injunctive relief and attorneys' fees. Alexander v. Fulton County, 207 F.3d 1303 (11th Cir. 2000).
The defendants appealed the case to the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. The court (Judge Marcus) affirmed most of the district court's ruling, but reversed it in part because "evidence presented at trial was sufficient to sustain some, but not all, jury verdicts on employees' numerous individual claims." and remanded the case. Alexander v. Fulton County, 207 F.3d 1303, (11th Cir. 2000).
According to the PACER docket, on August 8, 2000, the court (Judge Hunt) ordered that the mandate of the United States Court of Appeals was also the judgment of the district court. On April 10, 2001, the district court terminated the case. This occurred following orders granting the plaintiffs attorneys' fees and a judgment in the amount of $625,000.
Summary Authors
Emily Kuznick (4/9/2008)
Anderson, Robert Lanier III (Georgia)
Hancock, James Hughes (Alabama)
Forsling, Susan Barker (Georgia)
Golan, Linda Bodenstein (Georgia)
Bonnie, John C. (Georgia)
Anderson, Robert Lanier III (Georgia)
Hancock, James Hughes (Alabama)
Hunt, Willis B. Jr. (Georgia)
Marcus, Stanley (Florida)
Last updated March 20, 2024, 3:14 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Georgia
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Sept. 17, 1993
Closing Date: 2001
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
eighteen white current and former employees of the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Issues
General:
Discrimination-area:
Other Conditions of Employment (including assignment, transfer, hours, working conditions, etc)
Discrimination-basis:
Race:
Affected Sex or Gender: