On September 27, 2006, parents, as next friends of their minor daughters, filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq. against Ponca City Independent ...
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On September 27, 2006, parents, as next friends of their minor daughters, filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq. against Ponca City Independent School District No. 71, also known as Ponca City Public Schools. Plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief, claiming that Ponca City Public Schools had violated Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972, 20 U.S.C. § 1681, by denying plaintiffs' daughters' equal access to interscholastic and other school-sponsored athletics. Specifically, plaintiffs claimed that Ponca City Public Schools had discriminated against plaintiffs' daughters in the funding of athletics; access to equipment and supplies; the scheduling of games and practice times; the assignment and compensation of coaches; and the provision of locker rooms and facilities for both practice and competition and training facilities and services.
The parties held settlement conferences before the District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma (Magistrate Judge Sam A. Joyner) on January 12, 2007 and March 27, 2007. On April 9, 2007, the parties entered into a settlement agreement that settled all claims, except that they agreed to submit the issue of attorneys' fees and costs to be awarded to the court for determination on the basis of briefs submitted. On September 11, 2007, the Court (Magistrate Judge Sam A. Joyner) reported and recommended that plaintiffs' motion for awarding of attorneys' fees and costs be granted in part and denied in part, and awarded plaintiffs $39965.33, which was to be paid by defendants. On September 26, 2007, the Court (Federal District Judge Claire V. Eagan) ordered that the magistrate judge's report and recommendation be accepted. On September 28, 2007, the parties submitted a joint stipulation of dismissal with prejudice to the Court.
While the settlement agreement is not available, media reports state that the defendant agreed to improve the softball field and upgrade the plaintiffs' uniforms, equipment, and locker-room facilities.
The case was closed on September 28, 2007.
Heather Turner - 03/10/2014
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