Case: Caspar v. Snyder

4:14-cv-11499 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

Filed Date: April 14, 2014

Closed Date: May 20, 2015

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Case Summary

On April 14, 2014, several same-sex couples married in Michigan on March 22, 2014 filed this § 1983 civil rights action against the State in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The plaintiffs, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union and private counsel, asked the court to declare that the same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional when applied to Michigan's same-sex couples, to enjoin the State of Michigan from refusing to recognize those marriages, and to awar…

On April 14, 2014, several same-sex couples married in Michigan on March 22, 2014 filed this § 1983 civil rights action against the State in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The plaintiffs, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union and private counsel, asked the court to declare that the same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional when applied to Michigan's same-sex couples, to enjoin the State of Michigan from refusing to recognize those marriages, and to award attorney's fees and costs. The complaint named the governor, and the directors of the Department of Human Services, the Office of Retirement Services, and the Department of Community Health as defendants in their official capacities. The case was assigned to District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith and referred to Magistrate Judge Mona K. Majzoub.

The plaintiffs had all been married in Michigan on March 22nd, 2014, during the window of time between the decision in DeBoer v. Snyder, which overturned the ban on same-sex marriage, and the stay issued by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, which had enjoined the state from enforcing the ban on same-sex marriage. The plaintiffs' marriages were legal at the time they were solemnized. After the stay, the governor of Michigan suspended the benefits and rights associated with the plaintiffs' marriages. The plaintiffs alleged the suspension put their marriages in a state of legal limbo and violated their rights to due process and equal protection.

The plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary injunction on May 29, 2014, and the defendants filed motions to stay, to dismiss, and to consolidate cases. On January 15, 2015, Judge Goldsmith ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, granting their motion for a preliminary injunction enjoining the State of Michigan from refusing to recognize the marriages of all same-sex couples lawfully married in the state between the district court's decision in DeBoer v. Snyder and before the issuance of the stay by the Sixth Circuit. The judge also denied the defendants' motions to stay, to dismiss, and to consolidate cases.

A final declaratory judgment permanently enjoining the defendants was issued on February 24, 2015. It is unclear from the docket whether the plaintiffs were awarded attorneys' fees in this case. The case is now closed.

Summary Authors

Megan Dolan (7/1/2014)

Thomas Topping (3/2/2015)

Esther Vinarov (11/19/2018)

Related Cases

DeBoer v. Snyder, Eastern District of Michigan (2012)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4616682/parties/caspar-v-snyder/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Atcheson, G. Gordon (Michigan)

Baughman, Laura Jean (Michigan)

Attorney for Defendant

Barkman, Cori E. (Michigan)

Barton, Denise C. (Michigan)

Bettenhausen, Margaret A. (Michigan)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other
Judge(s)

Cook, Deborah L. (Ohio)

Daughtrey, Martha Craig (Tennessee)

Goldsmith, Mark Allan (Michigan)

Majzoub, Mona K. (Michigan)

Sutton, Jeffrey S. (Ohio)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

4:14-cv-11499

Docket [PACER]

May 20, 2015

May 20, 2015

Docket
1

4:14-cv-11499

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

April 14, 2014

April 14, 2014

Complaint
46

4:14-cv-11499

Opinion and Order (1) Granting Plaintiffs' Motion for a Preliminary Injunction (Dkt. 17), And (2) Denying Defendants' Motions For a Stay (Dkt. 20), To Dismiss (Dkt. 21), And to Consolidate Cases (Dkt. 27)

Casper v. Snyder

Jan. 15, 2015

Jan. 15, 2015

Order/Opinion

77 F.Supp.3d 77

50

4:14-cv-11499

Declaratory Judgment and Permanent Injunction

Feb. 24, 2015

Feb. 24, 2015

Order/Opinion

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4616682/caspar-v-snyder/

Last updated Feb. 22, 2024, 3:15 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT filed by All Plaintiffs against All Defendants. Plaintiff requests summons issued. Receipt No: 0645-4593819 - Fee: $ 400. County of 1st Plaintiff: Ingham - County Where Action Arose: Multiple Counties - County of 1st Defendant: Washtenaw. [Previously dismissed case: No] [Possible companion case(s): E.D. Mich., 12-cv-10285, Judge Friedman] (Kaplan, Jay) (Entered: 04/14/2014)

April 14, 2014

April 14, 2014

Clearinghouse
2

NOTICE of Appearance by Daniel S. Korobkin on behalf of All Plaintiffs. (Korobkin, Daniel) (Entered: 04/14/2014)

April 14, 2014

April 14, 2014

PACER
3

NOTICE of Appearance by Michael J. Steinberg on behalf of All Plaintiffs. (Steinberg, Michael) (Entered: 04/14/2014)

April 14, 2014

April 14, 2014

PACER
4

NOTICE of Appearance by Brooke A. Merriweather-Tucker on behalf of All Plaintiffs. (Merriweather-Tucker, Brooke) (Entered: 04/14/2014)

April 14, 2014

April 14, 2014

PACER
5

SUMMONS Issued for * All Defendants * (DWor) (Entered: 04/15/2014)

April 15, 2014

April 15, 2014

PACER
6

ATTORNEY APPEARANCE: John A. Knight appearing on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Knight, John) (Entered: 04/16/2014)

April 16, 2014

April 16, 2014

PACER
7

NOTICE of Appearance by Andrew A. Nickelhoff on behalf of All Plaintiffs. (Nickelhoff, Andrew) (Entered: 04/17/2014)

April 17, 2014

April 17, 2014

PACER
8

CERTIFICATE of Service/Summons Returned Executed. Phil Stoddard served on 4/24/2014, answer due 5/15/2014. (Steinberg, Michael) (Entered: 04/30/2014)

April 30, 2014

April 30, 2014

PACER
9

CERTIFICATE of Service/Summons Returned Executed. James Haveman served on 4/24/2014, answer due 5/15/2014. (Steinberg, Michael) (Entered: 04/30/2014)

April 30, 2014

April 30, 2014

PACER
10

CERTIFICATE of Service/Summons Returned Executed. Maura Corrigan served on 4/24/2014, answer due 5/15/2014. (Steinberg, Michael) (Entered: 04/30/2014)

April 30, 2014

April 30, 2014

PACER
11

CERTIFICATE of Service/Summons Returned Executed. Rick Snyder served on 4/24/2014, answer due 5/15/2014. (Steinberg, Michael) (Entered: 04/30/2014)

April 30, 2014

April 30, 2014

PACER
12

NOTICE of Appearance by Michael F. Murphy on behalf of All Defendants. (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 05/01/2014)

May 1, 2014

May 1, 2014

PACER
13

STIPULATION for Extension of Time by All Defendants (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 05/01/2014)

May 1, 2014

May 1, 2014

PACER
14

NOTICE of Appearance by Christina M. Grossi on behalf of All Defendants. (Grossi, Christina) (Entered: 05/01/2014)

May 1, 2014

May 1, 2014

PACER
15

ORDER Striking 13 Stipulation. Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (Goltz, D) (Entered: 05/06/2014)

May 6, 2014

May 6, 2014

PACER
16

STIPULATION AND ORDER to Extend Time to Answer 1 Complaint, (Response due by 6/5/2014). Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (Goltz, D) (Entered: 05/06/2014)

May 6, 2014

May 6, 2014

PACER
17

MOTION for Preliminary Injunction by All Plaintiffs. (Attachments: # 1 Index of Exhibits, # 2 Exhibit A - Caspar Declaration, # 3 Exhibit B - DeJong Declaration, # 4 Exhibit C - Callison Declaration, # 5 Exhibit D - Wolf Declaration, # 6 Exhibit E - Rutledge Declaration, # 7 Exhibit F - Colasonti Declaration, # 8 Exhibit G - Ryder Declaration, # 9 Exhibit H - McCormack Declaration, # 10 Exhibit I - Reamer Declaration, # 11 Exhibit J - Kelly Callison, # 12 Exhibit K - Anteau Declaration, # 13 Exhibit L - Haddock Declaration, # 14 Exhibit M - Contreras Declaration, # 15 Exhibit N - Orr Declaration, # 16 Exhibit O - Miller Declaration, # 17 Exhibit P - Racine Declaration, # 18 Exhibit Q - DeBoer v. Snyder Judgment, # 19 Exhibit Strauss v. Horton Amicus Brief) (Nickelhoff, Andrew) (Entered: 05/29/2014)

1 Index of Exhibits

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2 Exhibit A - Caspar Declaration

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3 Exhibit B - DeJong Declaration

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4 Exhibit C - Callison Declaration

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5 Exhibit D - Wolf Declaration

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6 Exhibit E - Rutledge Declaration

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7 Exhibit F - Colasonti Declaration

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8 Exhibit G - Ryder Declaration

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9 Exhibit H - McCormack Declaration

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10 Exhibit I - Reamer Declaration

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11 Exhibit J - Kelly Callison

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12 Exhibit K - Anteau Declaration

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13 Exhibit L - Haddock Declaration

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14 Exhibit M - Contreras Declaration

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15 Exhibit N - Orr Declaration

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16 Exhibit O - Miller Declaration

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17 Exhibit P - Racine Declaration

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18 Exhibit Q - DeBoer v. Snyder Judgment

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19 Exhibit Strauss v. Horton Amicus Brief

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May 29, 2014

May 29, 2014

PACER
18

Ex Parte MOTION for Leave to File Excess Pages by All Plaintiffs. (Nickelhoff, Andrew) (Entered: 05/29/2014)

May 29, 2014

May 29, 2014

PACER
19

NOTICE of Appearance by Joshua O. Booth on behalf of All Defendants. (Booth, Joshua) (Entered: 05/30/2014)

May 30, 2014

May 30, 2014

PACER
20

MOTION to Stay by All Defendants. (Attachments: # 1 Document Continuation attached case, # 2 Document Continuation attached case, # 3 Document Continuation attached case, # 4 Index of Exhibits, # 5 Exhibit 1, # 6 Exhibit 2, # 7 Exhibit 3, # 8 Exhibit 4, # 9 Exhibit 5) (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 06/05/2014)

1 Document Continuation attached case

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2 Document Continuation attached case

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3 Document Continuation attached case

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4 Index of Exhibits

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5 Exhibit 1

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6 Exhibit 2

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7 Exhibit 3

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8 Exhibit 4

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9 Exhibit 5

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June 5, 2014

June 5, 2014

PACER
21

MOTION to Dismiss by All Defendants. (Attachments: # 1 Index of Exhibits, # 2 Exhibit 1, # 3 Exhibit 2, # 4 Exhibit 3, # 5 Exhibit 4) (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 06/05/2014)

1 Index of Exhibits

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2 Exhibit 1

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3 Exhibit 2

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4 Exhibit 3

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5 Exhibit 4

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June 5, 2014

June 5, 2014

PACER
22

RESPONSE to 17 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by All Defendants. (Attachments: # 1 Index of Exhibits, # 2 Exhibit 1, # 3 Exhibit 2, # 4 Exhibit 3, # 5 Exhibit 4, # 6 Exhibit 5, # 7 Exhibit 6) (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 06/19/2014)

1 Index of Exhibits

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2 Exhibit 1

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3 Exhibit 2

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4 Exhibit 3

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5 Exhibit 4

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6 Exhibit 5

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7 Exhibit 6

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June 19, 2014

June 19, 2014

PACER
23

STIPULATION AND ORDER for Extension of Time for Plaintiffs' Response to Defendants' 20 MOTION to Stay, (Response due by 6/30/2014). Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (Goltz, D) (Entered: 06/23/2014)

June 23, 2014

June 23, 2014

PACER
24

RESPONSE to 20 MOTION to Stay Hold Case in Abeyance Pending Appeal in DeBoer filed by All Plaintiffs. (Nickelhoff, Andrew) (Entered: 06/30/2014)

June 30, 2014

June 30, 2014

PACER
25

RESPONSE to 21 MOTION to Dismiss filed by All Plaintiffs. (Nickelhoff, Andrew) (Entered: 06/30/2014)

June 30, 2014

June 30, 2014

PACER
26

Ex Parte MOTION for Leave to File Excess Pages Response to Motion to Dismiss by All Plaintiffs. (Nickelhoff, Andrew) (Entered: 06/30/2014)

June 30, 2014

June 30, 2014

PACER
27

MOTION to Consolidate Cases by All Defendants. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Blankenship Complaint) (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 07/01/2014)

1 Exhibit Blankenship Complaint

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July 1, 2014

July 1, 2014

PACER
28

NOTICE by All Defendants re 27 MOTION to Consolidate Cases (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 07/01/2014)

July 1, 2014

July 1, 2014

PACER
29

STIPULATION AND ORDER Extending Time for Defendants to File Reply to Response to 20 MOTION to Stay, (Response due by 7/14/2014). Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (Goltz, D) (Entered: 07/02/2014)

July 2, 2014

July 2, 2014

PACER
30

REPLY to Response re 17 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by All Plaintiffs. (Nickelhoff, Andrew) (Entered: 07/07/2014)

July 7, 2014

July 7, 2014

PACER
31

REPLY to Response re 21 MOTION to Dismiss filed by All Defendants. (Attachments: # 1 case, # 2 case, # 3 case) (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 07/14/2014)

1 case

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2 case

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3 case

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July 14, 2014

July 14, 2014

PACER
32

Ex Parte MOTION for Leave to File Excess Pages by All Defendants. (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 07/14/2014)

July 14, 2014

July 14, 2014

PACER
33

REPLY to Response re 20 MOTION to Stay filed by All Defendants. (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 07/14/2014)

July 14, 2014

July 14, 2014

PACER
34

Ex Parte MOTION for Leave to File Excess Pages by All Defendants. (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 07/14/2014)

July 14, 2014

July 14, 2014

PACER
35

NOTICE TO APPEAR: Status Conference set for 7/24/2014 @ 3:00 PM **LOCATION: FLINT, MICHIGAN** before District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith (Goltz, D) (Entered: 07/15/2014)

July 15, 2014

July 15, 2014

PACER
36

RESPONSE to 27 MOTION to Consolidate Cases filed by All Plaintiffs. (Nickelhoff, Andrew) (Entered: 07/18/2014)

July 18, 2014

July 18, 2014

PACER
37

NOTICE OF HEARING on 27 MOTION to Consolidate Cases, 17 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction, 21 MOTION to Dismiss, 20 MOTION to Stay . Motion Hearing set for 8/21/2014 @ 9:30 AM **LOCATION: FLINT, MICHIGAN** before District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith (Goltz, D) (Entered: 07/25/2014)

July 25, 2014

July 25, 2014

PACER
38

REPLY to Response re 27 MOTION to Consolidate Cases filed by All Defendants. (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 07/25/2014)

July 25, 2014

July 25, 2014

PACER
39

NOTICE of Appearance by Julian Davis Mortenson on behalf of All Plaintiffs. (Mortenson, Julian) (Entered: 08/05/2014)

Aug. 5, 2014

Aug. 5, 2014

PACER
40

SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEF re 20 MOTION to Stay filed by All Defendants. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit) (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 08/15/2014)

1 Exhibit

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Aug. 15, 2014

Aug. 15, 2014

PACER
41

NOTICE by Erin Dawn Blankenship, Shayla Blankenship re 27 MOTION to Consolidate Cases, 28 Notice (Other) (Gibbs, Alec) (Entered: 08/21/2014)

Aug. 21, 2014

Aug. 21, 2014

PACER
42

ORDER FOR SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEFING as to 27 Defendants' MOTION to Consolidate Cases; 17 Plaintiffs' MOTION for Preliminary Injunction; 21 Defendants' MOTION to Dismiss; 20 Defendants' MOTION to Stay: (Defendant's briefs due by 12/14/2014; Plaintiffs' briefs due by 12/21/2014). (Refer to image for additional details). Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (JCur) (Entered: 11/07/2014)

Nov. 7, 2014

Nov. 7, 2014

PACER
43

SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEF re 42 Order, Set Motion and R&R Deadlines/Hearings,, filed by Maura Corrigan, James Haveman, Rick Snyder, Phil Stoddard. (Booth, Joshua) (Entered: 11/14/2014)

Nov. 14, 2014

Nov. 14, 2014

PACER
44

SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEF re 42 Order, Set Motion and R&R Deadlines/Hearings,, filed by All Plaintiffs. (Attachments: # 1 Index of Exhibits, # 2 Exhibit 1 - Snyder issues statement, # 3 Exhibit 2 - Evans v. Utah - Stipulated Dismissal Order) (Nickelhoff, Andrew) (Entered: 11/19/2014)

1 Index of Exhibits

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2 Exhibit 1 - Snyder issues statement

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3 Exhibit 2 - Evans v. Utah - Stipulated Dismissal Order

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Nov. 19, 2014

Nov. 19, 2014

PACER
45

NOTICE by All Plaintiffs of Factual Development (Nickelhoff, Andrew) (Entered: 11/19/2014)

Nov. 19, 2014

Nov. 19, 2014

PACER
46

OPINION and ORDER (1) Granting Plaintiffs' Motion For A Preliminary Injunction 17, And (2) Denying Defendants' Motions For A Stay 20, To Dismiss 21, And To Consolidate Cases 27 . Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (JCur) (Entered: 01/15/2015)

Jan. 15, 2015

Jan. 15, 2015

RECAP
47

ORDER REGARDING SUBMISSION OF JOINT MEMORANDUM. Joint submissions due on or before 2/20/2015 . Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (JCur) (Entered: 02/09/2015)

Feb. 9, 2015

Feb. 9, 2015

48

MEMORANDUM re 47 Order by All Defendants (Murphy, Michael) (Entered: 02/20/2015)

Feb. 20, 2015

Feb. 20, 2015

49

STIPULATION AND ORDER To Extend Time For Plaintiffs To Move For Attorney Fees And Costs. Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (JCur) (Entered: 02/24/2015)

Feb. 24, 2015

Feb. 24, 2015

50

DECLARATORY JUDGMENT AND PERMANENT INJUNCTION. Signed by District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. (JCur) (Entered: 02/24/2015)

Feb. 24, 2015

Feb. 24, 2015

Clearinghouse
51

Stipulation and Order

May 20, 2015

May 20, 2015

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: Michigan

Case Type(s):

Public Benefits/Government Services

Special Collection(s):

Same-Sex Marriage

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 14, 2014

Closing Date: May 20, 2015

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The plaintiffs are several same-sex couples that were married in Michigan on March 22nd, 2014.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

ACLU Affiliates (any)

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

State of Michigan, State

Rick Snyder, State

Department of Community Health, State

Department of Human Services, State

Office of Retirement Services, State

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Equal Protection

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Preliminary injunction / Temp. restraining order

Declaratory Judgment

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Order Duration: 2015 - None

Content of Injunction:

Preliminary relief granted

Discrimination Prohibition

Issues

General:

Marriage

LGBTQ+:

LGBTQ+

Discrimination-basis:

Sex discrimination

Sexual orientation