Parents, on behalf of and as next of friends of their minor daughters, filed suit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma on October 29, 1999, against Independent School District Number 35 of Cherokee County, also known as Tahlequah Public Schools, alleging that the school district had violated the female students' rights under Title IX of the Education Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The plaintiffs sought class certification on behalf of all present and future female students enrolled at Tahlequah Public Schools who participate, seek to participate, or are deterred from participating in interscholastic and other school-sponsored athletics at Tahlequah Public Schools. The District Court (Magistrate Judge James H. Payne) granted class certification on March 9, 2000.

The parties held a settlement conference on May 5, 2000. After extensive negotiations, on March 5, 2001, Judge Payne approved the settlement agreement entered by the parties.

The District Court (Judge Hayes) awarded attorneys' fees and costs to the plaintiffs totaling $31,100. The case was dismissed on July 27, 2009.

Carlyn Williams - 03/24/2014


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