Johnson v. City of Arcadia, Fla.

450 F. Supp. 1363, 1978 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18832
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedMarch 23, 1978
Docket76-12 Civ. Ft. M-K
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 450 F. Supp. 1363 (Johnson v. City of Arcadia, Fla.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Johnson v. City of Arcadia, Fla., 450 F. Supp. 1363, 1978 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18832 (M.D. Fla. 1978).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION

KRENTZMAN, District Judge.

The Court, having considered the pleadings, the testimony, exhibits and other evidence adduced in the course of the trial, at the end of which the Court made findings in the record, and having considered the post-trial and proposed findings of fact submitted by each of the parties, and being advised in the premises, makes and finds the following findings of fact and conclusions of law, 1 pursuant to Rule 52(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

I. FINDINGS OF FACT

A. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

1. On February 25, 1976, plaintiffs— consisting of a class of all black citizens of Arcadia, Fla. allegedly deprived of equal municipal services — filed a complaint based upon Hawkins v. Town of Shaw, 303 F.Supp. 1162 (N.D.Miss.1969) rev’d 437 F.2d 1286 (5 Cir., 1971) aff’d en banc, 461 F.2d 1171 (5th Cir. 1972) seeking that disparities in the quality and quantity of certain services provided to black and white citizens be ameliorated.

2. Plaintiffs in addition invoked the jurisdiction of this Court pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq. (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964) and 31 U.S.C. § 1242 (State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972, hereinafter “Revenue Sharing Act”) and sought to apply the Revenue Sharing Act’s anti-discrimination provisions. See, 31 C.F.R. 5152, as amended, 40 Fed.Reg. 50029 (1952). See also, Robinson v. Schultz, 8 E. P.D. ¶ 9832 D.D.C.1974, Robinson v. Simon and United States v. Chicago, 395 F. Supp. 329 (N.D.Ill.1975).

3. At the same time of the filing of the complaint, plaintiffs filed two sets of interrogatories, a request for production of documents and an extensive set of requests for admissions of fact concerning the City's delivery of municipal services and its budgeting mechanisms and practices.

4. On March 26, 1976, defendants filed various “across-the-board” pre-trial motions with supportive memoranda. 2 Plaintiffs filed extensive responsive memoranda and this Court heard oral argument on all pretrial legal issues on September 27, 1976, in Tampa, Florida.

5. On October 21,1976, the Court denied all of defendants’ motions and directed plaintiffs’ counsel to file a concurrent administrative complaint with the Secretary of Treasury relating to plaintiffs’ Revenue Sharing claims. In addition, it granted plaintiffs’ motion to certify this proceeding as a class action. Plaintiffs’ class consists *1368 of all black residents residing in the City of Arcadia.

6. Thereafter, the plaintiffs conducted lengthy and complex pre-trial discovery concerning sophisticated financial and municipal service documents, reports and files. Counsel for plaintiffs with the assistance of their technical experts reviewed a complete inventory of service and financial data relating to the defendant City of Arcadia.

7. On April 11, 1977, trial commenced. The Court heard testimony over a two-day period relating to plaintiffs’ claims of racial discrimination in the provision of certain municipal services in the City of Arcadia, Florida. On April 12, 1977, this Court in its bench opinion found that defendants had historically and presently perpetrated racial discrimination against plaintiffs with regard to the following municipal services:

(a) the distribution of water facilities;
(b) street paving; and
(c) park and recreational facilities.

8. After holding that defendants had discriminated against plaintiffs, this Court enjoined defendants from spending any of the approximately $415,000 of revenue sharing funds which it had on hand or any future revenue sharing funds without further order of Court. Pursuant to the Court’s direction it has received from the parties comprehensive plans to equalize street paving, water systems, and park and recreational facilities in the black residential area of Arcadia.

9. The Court has received from the parties a stipulated final judgment which this Court has examined and approved as to relief. The final judgment sets forth in detailed fashion the type and quality of improvement works needed to eliminate racial discrimination in the provision of certain municipal services in the City of Arcadia.

B. THE PARTIES

10. Hinton Johnson, et al., plaintiffs, are adequate representatives of a class consisting of all of the black residents of the city who are presently and have been discriminated against by the defendants in the provision of municipal services and facilities as hereinafter set forth. (See, Court order certifying class, October 21, 1976).

11. Defendant E. Coleman Brewer is the mayor of the City, defendants Eugene Hickson, Lester Summerall, I. D. Eller and Walter J. Banull are the councilmen, and Margaret Way is the City Recorder. Defendants have complete responsibility for administering the affairs of the town, including the provision, allocation and financing of all municipal facilities and services. [Source: Defendants’ response to plaintiffs’ first interrogatories Nos. 2 and 5.]

12. The City of Arcadia is a municipal corporation with a charter adopted pursuant to Chapter 5080, Special Acts of 1901 of the Florida Stat. Annotated. It was originally incorporated on December 8,1886, and reincorporated in 1901. In area the City is approximately two miles square. Its present population of approximately 7,000 is 32% black and 68% white. [Source: Defendants’ response to plaintiffs’ request for production and inspection of documents (City Charter and Census Reports).]

13. The City of Arcadia has developed according to á strict pattern of residential racial segregation. The entire black community is bordered by railroad tracts to the east, north and west. Parker, Jordan, Baldwin, Manatee and Orange Streets, primarily in the black section, extend just one block north of Pine Street (which parallels the east-west railroad track). No blacks reside anywhere outside this small geographical area in the southwest portion of Arcadia. Some white households are located in the black section, where Monroe and Orange Streets between Hargrave and Harris are integrated. [Source: City Map of Arcadia, defendants’ Exhibit No. 4.]

14. The City of Arcadia provides, maintains and improves certain facilities for its residents.

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Bluebook (online)
450 F. Supp. 1363, 1978 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18832, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/johnson-v-city-of-arcadia-fla-flmd-1978.